The provincial government of Negros Oriental has allotted a total of P1.5 million for the repair of the lone elementary school building in Apo Island, Dauin, Negros Oriental.
The funds are taken from the provincial government’s Special Educational Fund (SEF), according to Engr. Maelen Jimenez of PEO’s maintenance and public work division.
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, together with Construction Division Head Engr. Franco Alpuerto of the Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO), on July 9, 2011 visited the elementary school in Apo Island, signaling the start of the repair work.
Workers are now ferrying construction materials from the mainland to Apo Island for the repair of the one-storey, three-classroom building. “The entire building is really in a dilapidated state,” said Jimenez.
She can’t tell for now when the repair work will be done. “We did not set a target completion date as we are depending on sea conditions because we have to haul materials from Dauin out into the island,” she explained.
Construction workers have to brave rough waters during the 30-minute boat ride from the village of Malatapay, Zamboanguita town in order to reach the island.
Apo Island, a world-renowned dive destination seven kilometers off the southeastern tip of Negros Island, is an island barangay under the jurisdiction of Dauin town with a population of 745 based on the 2007 Census. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)