Schools a long walk for kids of Ilocos Norte, Isabela

With in-person classes resuming soon, several students from Ilocos Norte and Isabela province will have to face walking for kilometers to get to school.

According to Claire Lacanilao’s report on “24 Oras,” some children from Barangay Lubnac in the municipality of Vintar, Ilocos Norte walk for around 30 minutes to reach their classes.

“Nahihirapan po,” (It was hard)  Laica Joy Agamanos, a Grade 7 student, said.

But apart from the trek, most learners from the barangay also worry about the lack of education supplies less than two weeks from the opening of the school year.

Vintar Mayor Richard Degala said the local government has allocated a budget to assist students with materials, but acknowledged the fund was not enough for all in need.

“Although may budget, ang nakikita ko ngayon ay hindi kasya 'yun kaya 'yun ang ipapakiusap ko sa mga kasamahan natin na by next year, 'yung project na 'yun sana ay simula sa day care mula sa college ay magbibigay  tayo ng libreng school supplies,” Degala said.

(Although we have the budget, we expect that it will not be enough to help all students. That’s why by next year, we will appeal to our colleagues to give us more funding so we can provide school supplies for daycare students up to  college students.)

Students from Sitio Bating in Barangay Alibagu, Ilagan City also face the same challenge as they would have to walk for over two kilometers to arrive at their schools.

Residents opted not to commute after tricycle fares hit triple due to the rise in oil prices, the report added.

GMA Regional TV “Balitang Amianan” reached out to the Ilagan City government for its comment but has yet to respond as of posting time.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA News