THE DEPARTMENT of Education’s last mile school program marked a milestone with the completion of a school in Calbiga, Samar province.

“This is only the first step to the many developments under the Public Schools of the Future framework. We will continue to close the gap between the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas to their urban center counterparts in providing unhampered and equal access to education,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.

Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua said that funding is needed for Last Mile Schools like the Patong National High School, whose roof is made of sala-sala, bamboo, sawali, nipa, and pan-aw, and has unpaved flooring.

“Hindi lang tayo nagtatayo ng building kundi kinukumpleto rin natin ang package. Itatayo natin ang building, lalagyan natin ng laman tulad ng furniture, sistema para sa solar power at tubig. Ito ang essential elements of a last mile school,” Pascua said.

PNHS School Head Apolinario Nacario said that the last mile program is a boon to poor families in remote areas.

“Hindi na mahihirapan ang mga pamilya sa paggastos nang malaki para sa pamasahe ng kanilang anak papunta ng bayan. Ito rin kasi ay nasa sentro ng limang paaralan ng elementarya,” Nacario said.

Meanwhile, Bonga National High School Principal Wilma Montejo said that construction of one concrete school building with four classrooms is almost finished.

The building will replace their six makeshift classrooms.

“Gawa na halos lahat. Kinakailangan na lang ay ang system na makakapag-generate ng koryente mula sa solar power at ang pasilidad sa paghuhugas ng kamay. By March. sana ay matapos ito para makapag-open na kami ng face-to-face classes,” Montejo said.

The DepEd aims to enhance last mile schools to better serve learners in hard to reach communities.

“’Yan ang dapat bigyan natin ng focus kung paano natin gagawing kasing ganda ang mga last mile schools na narito ng mga eskuwelahan sa siyudad. Hopefully, the next administration will continue ang ganito klase ng priority,” Pascua said.