Classrooms donated by GMA Kapuso Foundation ready to accommodate North Cotabato students this November

Two classrooms donated by GMA Kapuso Foundation in Kidapawan, North Cotabato will start accommodating students starting next month.

According to “24 Oras,” Wednesday, students in the city have been using a makeshift classroom for four years since an earthquake struck their area and damaged their school.

It is even more difficult for the students, especially since they don’t have a proper toilet.

“‘Yung lumilindol, ang hirap nung pinagdaanan ko para kaming na-shock lahat kasi ‘yung paaralan nila nasira,” resident Floramae Awag said in tears.

Grade 1 and 2 students had to be combined together in the same classroom.

“Napakahirap po para sa akin na mag-handle ng dalawang klase kasi po Grade 1 is parang need pa nila ng attention talaga, so parang mahirap siya, lalong-lalo na po sa pag-shifting ko sa ibang grade like Grade 2,” Sumayahon Elementary School teacher Jean Longakit said.

To expedite the construction of the Kapuso classroom, the students' parents joined in to help.

This has also become the goal of Francis Atang, a volunteer in building the Kapuso classroom at Lake Agco Integrated School, where his two children study.

Just like Sumayahon Elementary School, it did not survive the earthquake that hit in 2019.

"’Yung mga anak ko na lang ang papatuluyin ko sa pag-aaral para po mataguyod ko ‘yung kinabukasan nila para hindi po maka-ano sa akin,” Francis said.

As an early Christmas gift to the Manobo natives studying at Sumahayon Elementary School and Lake Agco Integrated School, GMA Kapuso Foundation will finally unveil their new Kapuso classrooms with comfort rooms in November.

“Almost 85% na ‘yung both project natin. Binuhusan natin ‘yun bawat trusses para talagang nakapeak siya dun sa ating bawat roof bin,” Engr. Arnel Zantua said.

“Kahit malayo kami, mayro’n pa palang nagmamahal katulad niyo mga GMA Kapuso,” Floramae said.

For those who are interested to help, GMA Kapuso Foundation is accepting donations through bank deposits, Cebuana Lhuillier, GCash, Shopee, PayMaya, Zalora, MegaMart, Globe Rewards, Metrobank credit card, and Lazada.

For more information, visit the GMA Kapuso Foundation website.

—Carby Basina/CACM, GMA Integrated News