by Juliet B. Saley

BONTOC, Mt. Province, April 1  - The Action Center for Enhancement and Social Services (ACCESS) continues giving assistance to pupils of marginalized families for its support to government's priority concern for education.

Norberto Cobaldez, a director of the board of this organization said ACCESS is a non-government organization composed of professionals of the province tied up with the Educational Research and Development Assistance (ERDA) based in Manila which is supportive of the educational development program of the national government.

Cobaldez said this organization, now on its seventh year, has benefited marginalized students and pupils, from selected public elementary and secondary schools in the province.

They were provided with school uniforms (one T-shirt and a pair of pant each for the boys and one skirt and one blouse each for the girls), and school supplies.

For this school year, it has assisted the Guina-ang and Maligcong preschools.


Aside from giving assistance in kind to students/pupils, the ACCESS has also provided this school year half of the salary of two preschool teachers of Guina-ang and Maligcong preschools. A total of P72,000 was given to the two teachers covering 10 months or school year 2010 to 2011. Each of the teachers received P3,600 per month.

Cobaldez said members of the association and the parents of the preschool pupils made an agreement that aside from what the organization gives, parents should also give their counterpart for the salary of the teachers.

He said if financial condition is stable, which will be determined when the Board of Directors meets, the association shall continue giving assistance to the two preschools next school year and might even expand to other schools.*(PIA- CAR/Mt. Province)