MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Newly-designated Department of Education (DepEd) Marawi Schools Division Superintendent Anna Zenaida Unte-Alonto emphasized the significance of establishing child-friendly spaces in schools.

She highlighted this during an interview with the Philippine Information Agency after the inauguration of a playground handwashing facility turned over by World Vision to Sikap Elementary School located in Barangay Rapasun.

“Right now in the current situation of pandemic and prior to pandemic, the miserable effect of siege on our children is really tremendous, too much affected their emotional health. So, giving them these children spaces would actually inspire them to go to school, to open up, to be playful, to be proactive, and to be motivated to go to school every day” Alonto said.

Alonto also conveyed gratitude to the child-focused non-government organization for its continued efforts and support to the schools and children in the City.

Meanwhile, Faisah Macapando, Sikap Elementary School’s child protection coordinator said that children will no longer need to go out to play during their break time because a playground inside the school is already constructed.

“We are thankful sa World Vision dahil mula pa noong 2017, andito sila mula noon hanggang ngayon. They are here to provide us tulad nitong child-friendly spaces na maiiwasan na ang pagpunta ng mga bata sa other places, computer shops,” she said.

[We are thankful to World Vision because they have been here since 2017 until now. They are here to provide us with child-friendly spaces that will prevent children from going to other places like computer shops.]

World Vision targets to turn over a total of six playgrounds and six handwashing facilities to different schools in the City. (LELA/PIA-10/ICIC)