Northern Samar’s new DepEd Division office building and Library Hub soon to serve the public

By TERESITA B. CARDENAS (PIA Northern Samar)
June 10, 2009

CATARMAN, Northern Samar  –  Northern Samar’s New Division Office Building and Library Hub will be opened soon for business next week. This was learned from Dr. Thelma C. Quitalig, the schools division superintendent, in her opening remarks during the blessing last Friday of the new division building and library hub.

An emotional division chief said that the blessing of the new building was historic and further said that her heart was filled with joy and sense of accomplishment. “This is the day that God has willed us to be here to witness the ritual showcasing of one of the big accomplishments we have made as an organization”, Quitalig said.

Quitalig further elaborated how the “beautiful edifice” started. Upon her assumption to office as the schools division superintendent of Northern Samar on June 4, 2003, she then dreamt of constructing a new division office building.  When news spread out that central office will construct its new library hub, her dream suddenly became a big hope. She hoped that soon that building will be afforded to the province.  She then believed that because she has put premium on commitment, perseverance and excellence – all these won the hearts and minds of education stakeholders that consequently led to the granting of P8 million worth of a two-storey building.

The 2-storey building will now house the administrative personnel, the medical and dental unit, the planning unit, the legal unit, all on the second floor and the division library hub which is considered one of the biggest hubs in the country is located on its first floor and would be operational this week. The second floor is however still undergoing its finishing touches while awaiting for the remaining P2 million from the central office.

Meanwhile, the Division Library Hub project supports the Early Child a Reader Program (ECARP) of the Department of Education which aims to develop love and habit of reading among children in public elementary and secondary schools.

The library hub will serve as warehouse library of books and supplementary reading materials in all levels and will exclusively serve the five hundred twenty (520) public elementary schools, sixty-six (66) secondary schools, one hundred fifteen thousand five hundred fifty-four (115,554) elementary teachers, nine hundred seventy-three (973) secondary teachers and three hundred fifty-seven (357) administrators of the Division of Northern Samar.

Governor Raul A. Daza in his message remembered the school where he went while he was still a child.  He related that his mother was a school teacher in one of the barangays in Calbayog City. The building where his mother taught was very dilapidated that seemed ready to be blown away during stormy days.  Their house was more sturdy than their school building.  The governor then related his elementary and college days, the experiences of his mother and his experiences as a working student in their library where he spent most of his time, “where I was working to help my mother defray expenses in my schooling.”

“Sometimes people say tell me where your house is, and I will tell you who you are, and this morning as we witness the blessing of this new division office building, we get a glimpse of the good leadership of Dr. Quitalig,” the governor said.

Addressing the educators who attended the blessing, the governor further said that “there could be no quality education if there is no suitable building and classrooms since education is the best equalizer in a society and that teachers hold the balance of social equality for their sincerity, devotion and passion to serve the school children.  In the midst of the global economic crisis, there is a ray of hope in the distance horizon and the dawn of promise, so I share with you, your deepest passion to serve the people of Northern Samar”.

He also congratulated, Dr. Thelma Quitalig for her efforts in looking for financial support from the central office in order to realize the completion of the project.

On the other hand, the assistant schools division superintendent and Project STRIVE Manager Mrs. Juanita F. Layon, said in her closing remarks that “the province is blessed to have been given our own ‘Library of Alexandria’ where learners’ thirst for knowledge will be easily satisfied with the flowing information from its soon to be book furnished shelves. The hunger for teaching resources can now be easily satiated with the sumptuous array of soft and hard materials available within our reach. This library hub could be one of the best things that ever happened to our never-ending quest for learning and excellence”.