Sara allows home studying in Pikit as class attendance drops due to ‘climate of fear’

Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte has ordered school officials in Pikit, North Cotabato to implement remote studying after a dramatic drop in class attendance marred some schools due to the spate of violence that lately targeted students there.

Duterte visited on Monday the Pikit National High School (PNHS), where a 65-percent drop in class attendance was recorded due the “climate of fear” sowed by the killing of minors, including the fatal gun attack on 13-yearold Fahad Dianalan Guintawan, a Grade 7 student of PNHS and a resident of Sitio Tambak Barangay Gli-gli, last February 14.

The two other companions of the victims were wounded in the gun attack.

Two days later, Justine Ababon, 15, a Grade 9 student of Notre Dame of Pikit and a resident of Barangay Fort Pikit, was killed by unidentified suspects while tending their store.

Ababon was helping that time his parent’s store following the suspension of classes imposed by the local government following the shooting of Guintawan and his companions.

According to reports, the spate of killings was

The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) continues house validation and spot mapping for the families in Barangay 22-C and Barangay 21-C whose houses were razed by the February 25, 2023 fire incident.

CSWDO Emergency Assistance Program Division Head Anabelle Lugo, in an interview with the City Information Office (CIO), said that the validation and spot mapping continue after the fire incident and interviews conducted after the validation will be the basis for the financial assistance.

While the validation is ongoing, CSWDO Administrative Officer IV Julie Dayaday, in a separate interview with CIO Monday, said that ration cards are given to 603 families and 53 individuals from Barangay 21-C and identified 379 families and 66 individuals from Barangay 22-C.

“Kung kinsa tung nahatagan nato ug ration cards sila tung priority nato sa mga goods nga gihatag sa city government of Davao, goods nga gikan sa DSWD, goods nga gikan sa atong mga partners, and mga donors (Those who are given ration cards are prioritized in the distribution of goods from the City Government of Davao, goods from the DSWD, and goods from our partners, and our donors),” Dayaday said.

She said that immediately after the fire last Saturday, the CSWDO deployed a mobile kitchen and also provided tents and sleeping bags. The evacuation centers also have child-friendly spaces and breastfeeding areas.

City Health Office representatives are also on standby for medical needs.

Psychological first aid is also given by the CHO and a team from the CSWDO to individuals by request.

Public Safety and Security Office head Angel Sumagaysay, in an interview on Monday, also said that their office has provided personnel to secure the evacuation area and the donation centers.

The city according to Dayaday is still receiving donations to be dropped off at the Task Force Davao,