By Nimfa Estrellado (L-R) Mulanay Mayor Aristotle Aguirre, Miss Verna Telada, Gerald Dimaano - MSWDO, and Vice Mayor Jay Esplana Castilleja ...
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| (L-R) Mulanay Mayor Aristotle Aguirre, Miss Verna Telada, Gerald Dimaano - MSWDO, and Vice Mayor Jay Esplana Castilleja during the recent awarding ceremony for the three prestigious DSWD awards received by the municipality at the Batangas Provincial Auditorium, Batangas City. (Photo from Mulanay PIO) |
MULANAY, Quezon – It has been four years since super typhoons Rolly and Ulysses made their devastating landfall, unleashing a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 storm that wreaked havoc across Mulanay and other parts of Quezon province. The super typhoons' impact was immense, leaving a permanent mark on the landscape.
One of the hardest-hit areas was Barangay San Isidro, where the once-proud San Isidro Elementary School lay in ruins. Multiple typhoons, along with earthquakes and landslides triggered by relentless rains, had ravaged the school building beyond repair. This forced its permanent closure in November 2020, leaving 245 students and teachers displaced and struggling to continue their education in the most unsuitable of venues, the Decena sports arena, also known locally as the cockpit.
Since then, Mulanay Mayor Aristotle Aguirre has been tirelessly working to secure funding and resources to rebuild the school, providing a safe and conducive learning environment for the affected students and teachers. The community has also come together to support the reconstruction efforts, demonstrating remarkable resilience and unity in the face of hardship.
In 2024, their determination has paid off with significant progress, thanks to the support of the Quezon provincial government led by Governor Angelina "Helen" Tan, and Barangay San Isidro Captain Arnolfo Decena. The rebuilding of San Isidro Elementary School culminated in the blessing and inauguration of a new 6-classroom, 2-story school building on March 6, 2024.
The new school building boasts modern facilities and technology, ensuring quality education in a setting designed to withstand typhoons and other natural disasters. It features its own water supply system, solar panel system, fire alarm system, slope protection, and typhoon resilience. Governor Tan's dedication to education and disaster-resilient infrastructure has made a tangible, positive impact on the community.
Mayor Aguirre apologizes to the Department of Education, teachers, and students who have endured challenges studying in temporary structures. "If I've caused any offense due to delays in the new school building, please know that I sincerely apologize. My intention was never to prolong this difficult situation. I sought support to expedite the project, but faced limitations beyond my control."
"Despite the challenges we have faced, the dedication of the teachers and staff to providing quality education to our students has never wavered. I am truly grateful for their commitment and perseverance during this time of transition." Aguirre added.
He also expressed gratitude to Barangay Captain Arnolfo Decena and Gov. Tan for their crucial support. "Governor Tan's involvement has been instrumental in making this project a reality, ensuring our students will soon have a modern and safe learning environment. This demonstrates the power of collaboration when officials work together for the betterment of our community."
Gov. Tan highlighted the source of funding, stating, "The funds for its construction came from the Special Education Fund from Real Property Tax collections, underscoring the importance of allocating resources to education infrastructure. San Isidro Elementary School is the first school in the district to benefit from this initiative."
This partnership between local government officials, educational institutions, and residents showcases a strong commitment to funding education and providing a conducive environment for learning. This project serves as a testament to what can be achieved when various stakeholders come together with a shared goal of improving educational facilities for the benefit of the community.
Future New Upgrades and Projects
Mulanay's students are set to benefit from Governor Tan's exciting announcement of upcoming upgrades to the integrated school and high school. These improvements will expand educational opportunities, showcasing the governor's unwavering commitment to investing in the future of Mulanay's youth.
The healthcare sector will also see expansion with the groundbreaking ceremony for a Super Health Center in May of this year. This facility will provide specialized free medical services, complementing the existing quality care provided by Bondoc Peninsula Hospital in Catanuan, Quezon.
Mulanay also celebrated the blessing and inauguration of new infrastructure projects. A multipurpose building in Barangay San Pedro will become a hub for community life, while the opening of the longest hanging bridge will dramatically improve connectivity and ease between Brgy. Bagupaye and Brgy. Latangan, even during heavy rains.
Governor Tan expressed her joy that the provincial government continues to address the needs of Mulanay and Quezon residents. She reassured the community that the province remains steadfast in its commitment to providing "serbisyong tunay at natural" .
Mulanay excels in social welfare, receives three prestigious DSWD awards
During the recent Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) "Panata Ko Sa Bayan Awards 2023" program at the Batangas Provincial Auditorium, Batangas City, Mulanay received three prestigious awards.
The municipality was first awarded the Gawad Paglilingko sa Sambayanan (GAPAS) Award for Model Local Government Unit (LGU)) Implementing Day Care Service (Municipal Level), which, according to DSWD, highlights Mulanay's exceptional efforts in ensuring quality early childhood care.
All barangays within the municipality have functioning Day Care Centers (DCCs) and Day Care Workers (DCWs), alongside active Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children (BCPCs) promoting children's welfare. Mulanay's commitment to children's development is further demonstrated by its investment plan for children, accreditation for at least 80% of its DCCs and DCWs, and competitive salaries for DCWs.
These efforts contribute to an impressive 95% enrollment rate among children within the early childhood care population and a low 10% drop-out rate. Additionally, the LGU organizes capability-building activities for DCWs and support groups for daycare parents.
Mulanay was further honored with two more prestigious awards, one of which is the Gawad Serbisyong Masigasig in recognition of its significantly improved 2023 Service Delivery Capacity Assessment (SDCA) score. Recognizing Mulanay's rapid improvement in service delivery and its logistical prowess during crises was specifically commended by the DSWD.
Furthermore, Mulanay received the GAWAD ULAT—Most DSWD—Social Media Advocates Award, highlighting the municipality's savvy use of social media to spread awareness of vital social welfare programs. The municipality's commitment to raising awareness about important social welfare initiatives was recognized as crucial to community engagement.
"These awards reflect the hard work and dedication of the entire Mulanay community," said Aguirre. "We see this as validation of our vision for a community where every citizen has the opportunity to thrive. Our investment in quality daycare, streamlined crisis response systems, and our active social media presence are key pillars of our approach." he said during the award ceremony.
He also pledges that they won't stop until every child has a strong start, every family has the support they need, and everyone feels connected to vital resources. "We at the Mulanay are committed to continuously improving and expanding our services to ensure the well-being of all residents," the good mayor of Mulanay said.
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