Grade 6 pupil rides old and rusty zipline every day just to attend school

To attend school everyday, an 11-year-old boy from Murcia, Negros Occidental needs to use an old and rusty 300 meter zipline, guided by his father.

All the way from the remote community in Sitio Managaksak, Eljames and his father, Ricky, need to wake up at four a.m. as they must trek for an hour, cross a river, and use the cable at a 100 meter height.

In an interview on "Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho," Ricky said, "Kapit lang mahigpit para 'di malaglag. Iniisip ko kung hanggang kailan kami makaka-survive. Putol na po talaga ang tali, kinakabit lang namin siya ng tali pa para magamit pa."

["We're really holding on tight so we don't fall. I wonder how much longer we can survive. The rope is so short, we're just tying it back together to keep using it."]

"Hindi ako kinakabahan, sanay na ako," Eljames said.

["I'm not nervous riding the zipline because I'm used to it."]

Once classes are over, Eljames finishes his assignments at school before his father picks him up again to begin another long journey back home.

He said this is because it's dark by the time he gets home, so he couldn't finish his homework there.

"Gusto ko mag-aral para makatulong ako sa pamilya ko. Gusto ko makaahon sa kahirapan," Eljames said.

["I want to study so I can help my family. I want to lift us out of poverty.""]

Eljames's mother, Rose, usually stays at home, but there are also days when she needs to take her youngest child, a four-year-old girl named Mary Rose, to the daycare center also located at the other mountain.

"Tinitingnan ko mabuti kung safe ba 'yung kable. Kinakabahan pa rin po ako hanggang ngayon kasi may kasama po akong bata," Rose said.

["I double-check the cable to make sure it's safe. Even now, I still get nervous riding it because I have my child with me."]

Planting vegetables is their family's main source of income. They also make P1,000 a month making barbeque sticks.

"Dito kami nagtatanim ng gulay katulad ng patola, sitaw. Sa lolo ko po ito, wala po talaga kasi kaming lupang sarili," Rose said

["We plant various vegetables here. This land belongs to my grandfather. We don't really have land of our own."]

"Dati doon kami nakatira sa baba. Kaso ang lupa namin nasama sa pagbili ng aking lolo kaya wala na kami doon bahay. Kaya pumunta kami rito sa bundok at dito nagpatayo ng bahay at dito kumukuha ng aming kabuhayan," Ricky added.

["We used to live at the foot of the mountain, but our land was sold by my grandfather. That's why we moved up here, built a house, and now we make our living in the mountains."]

Aside from Eljames and Mary Rose, they also have an eight-year-old son, Ezra, who is currently staying with Ricky's sibling in town.

"Kasi nahirapan na sa akin na mag-zipline kasi babae siya at maliit pa, anim na taon pa lang siya. Baka may anong mangyari sa kanya or naiipit ang kamay niya. 'Yun ang iniisip ko sana hindi ito ang kabuhayan namin at saka hindi kami rito umuuwi," Rose and Ricky said.

["It's difficult for my daughter to use the zipline because she's only six years old. I'm worried something might happen to her. I wish this wasn't our livelihood, and that we didn't have to live here."]

According to officials, there used to be a tramline similar to a cable car in Sitio Managaksak, which was used to cross mountains in planting trees.

It was a project by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in the '90s, but it is no longer working because its cables are thin and rusty.

"Natapos na 'yung project natin sa kabila tapos wala namang masyadong tina-transport through that line. Di-niscourage na po namin ang activities sa kabila kasi part na siya ng Northern Negros Natural Park at saka strict protection zone ang area," Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, PENRO Negros Occidental said. 

["Our project on the other side has been completed, and there's not much being transported through that line anymore. We've already discouraged activities since it's now part of the Northern Negros Natural Park, an area under strict protection."]

"Kaya nga hindi na natin ginagamit kasi hindi na siya safe. Nabigla kami na meron pa palang gumagamit. Kailangan talaga palitan 'yung buong line at saka 'yung ginagamit na parang cable car para hindi siya delikado kung gagamitin," Gerangaya added.

["We stopped using it because it's no longer safe. We were surprised to find out that someone is still using it. The entire line and makeshift cable car need to be replaced to ensure it's not dangerous."]

The KMJS team reached out to the local government of Murcia for comment about the problem.

"Actually the plan, the recommendation mare-locate namin sila. Due to the hazard na situation nila doon could be as soon as possible. Puwede namin sila ma-move out doon ano talaga as soon as possible. Ni-refer sila namin sa financial assistance where sila 'yung mag-assist o sila maghanap na kung ano ang gusto nilang livelihood," Charisma Olimpo, Head of Municipal Social Welfare And Development - Municipality Of Murcia said.

["Our plan is to relocate them as soon as possible due to the hazardous situation they're in. We've also referred them for financial assistance to help them find a livelihood."]

"Mayroon tayong binibigay sa kanya na mga activity sheets at modules na ipe-perform niya at magkaroon siya ng special schedule na sa ganitong mga araw lamang puwedeng pumunta ng school," Lila Vaflor Arro, designated Division Information Officer, Dep-Ed Bacolod City Division said.

["We're providing him with activity sheets and modules to work on, and he has a special schedule that allows him to come to school only on certain days."]

"Pinagdadasal ko na, sana kahit papano makaka-survive kami sa ganitong sitwasyon," Ricky said.

["I'm praying that we can survive this situation."]

Rose, meanwhile, settles for encouraging her children.

"Hindi ko maibigay sa anak ko kung anong gusto nila. Sinasabi ko sa kanila, 'pag tapos na kayo ng pag-aaral. marami na kayo mabibili ng anong gusto n'yo. Sipag lang. Makakaraos din kami," she said. 

["Even though I can't give my children everything they want, I always remind them, 'Once you finish your studies, you'll be able to buy whatever you want. Just work hard, and we'll get through this."]

For those who wanted to help Eljames and his family, you may deposit to:

BDO BACOLOD-LIBERTAD BRANCH
BANK ACCOUNT NAME: RIQUE R. RETIZA
BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER: 007550156120
CONTACT NUMBER: 0927 164 3165

—JCB, GMA Integrated News