A new P1.5-million much-needed school building has risen in one of the poor villages of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), particularly in Datu Salipada K. Pendatun town in the province of Maguindanao, through the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Lack of school buildings in many areas of the ARMM provinces – Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the city of Marawi – is one of the most pressing problems being addressed by the administration of ARMM Gov. Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan.

Ampatuan has relied on the ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP) for the implementation of infrastructure undertakings funded by JICA and World Bank, among them school buildings, seaports, village roads, and markets, among others.

“We will continue to address the needs of our people in the ARMM, such as education, health and livelihood,” said Ampatuan, as he expressed thanks to the national government and foreign donors for their continued support.

One of these projects is the almost completed two-room Bai Tambabai National High School in Barangay Ramcor, a poor village in Datu Salipada K. Pendatun town, with a population of some 2,469 people, a total land area of 992.64 hectares, based on a 2007 census.

JICA funded the school building with P1.5 million through its Community Development Assistance (CDA).

It’s one of the projects in the 2009 Community Investment Plan (CIP) of the people’s organization (PO) called Ramcor Farmers Association (RFA) and village local officials to afford their children an easier access to education.

RFA president Zaldy Akil welcomed the realization of the schoolhouse, saying children of Ramcor have difficulty accessing education due to acute lack of classrooms, with the village having only two rooms for all its high school students.

Barangay Ramcor high school students have been using warehouses for their classes.