Hedcor gifts Sitio Katablaran studes with Day Care Center

MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon, July 1 — Classroom learning is yet to fully  resume for the young students of Katablaran Day Care Center in Brgy. Santiago, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. Still, the students will have something to look forward to as Hedcor turned over a newly refurbished Day Care Center.

“The students used to hold classes in their Sitio’s community hall. But with the Day Care Center, they will have a more appropriate venue to learn and play,” shared Engely Balutic, Hedcor’s Community Relations representative in Bukidnon.

The refurbished school facility was formerly a container van used to haul power plant parts—such turbines—during the construction of Hedcor’s 73.3-megawatt Manolo Fortich Hydro power plants in Bukidnon. 

Through the P700,000-worth of refurbishment work and P40,000 worth of learning materials like educational toys, books, tables and chairs, the container van is reborn to be a learning-conducive daycare center. 

Hedcor’s Community Relations Head Andy Faelnar emphasized the importance of reinforcing early childhood education in its Corporate Social Responsibility activities.

“Quality education among children is vital for cognitive and academic development. Recognizing this, Hedcor ensures that it is able to provide the resources needed for holistic quality learning among the children of its host communities,” Faelnar said.

Due to the remoteness of the area, coupled with weak signal and lack of computers, online classes may not be an option while the state of public health emergency is still in effect.

Schools will be aligning with the national mandates, but currently, they are looking to adopt the blended learning scheme which involves mostly modular instruction and face-to-face learning with no more than 20 pupils. All these are to be carried out with utmost precaution. 

With this possible learning setup, the refurbished daycare center will come in useful especially because it is located within the community and is spacious enough to practice social distancing.

It is also equipped with a comfort room and a hand-washing area where students can constantly disinfect themselves.

Hedcor’s turnover has been non-ceremonial due to the threat of COVID-19.

In 2019, Hedcor similarly turned over a container van daycare center to Sitio Sabangan, in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Hedcor is a run-of-river hydropower arm of AboitizPower. It currently operates 22 hydropower facilities with a total installed capacity of 277 megawatts of Cleanergy. (Hedcor-AboitizPower/PIA Bukidnon)