LAOAG CITY — A US-based humanitarian organization has been reaching out to school children in the province, giving more books and self-learning materials to nurture them.
Upon the initiative of Laoag City Councilor Roque Benjamin Ablan, Children International donated more than 50,000 books and workbooks suited for Filipino children enrolled in Kindergarten up to Grade 12.
According to Ablan, the books include those on Mathematics, Algebra, Geometry, English, Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Life Science and Social Studies.
The young councilor said he tried to solicit books from Children International and the organization readily approved it when he assured that he would shoulder the cost of shipping from Manila to Laoag.
To date, a total of 47,282 books were already distributed to the different schools in the province while there are still 12,718 remaining to be given to the Ilocos Norte National High School and eight elementary schools in Laoag.
Believing that books are still the most reliable source of information, Ablan said there is a need to teach learners at an early age to develop the habit of reading and to ensure that they get the correct information.
“Students now are so dependent on internet when doing their homework. It’s easier and faster but it tends to make them lazy,” Ablan said as he also expressed concern on the proliferation of false information online. “Compared to books, the information is more accurate,” Ablan added.
The book distribution is also meant to answer the need for more books in the province, where the ratio of students to books is 2:1 in most areas, according to the city councilor.
Aside from books as study references, there are also work books provided for the learners that could help them practice and apply the lessons they learned from the classroom. (Leilanie Adriano/PNA)
