TUGUEGARAO CITY, April 20 (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 2 (DSWD-2) has urged stakeholders to help address shortage of chairs for the learners in schools, both elementary and high schools, in the region.

Based on the assessment conducted by the said agency, the result shows that of the 353,324 elementary pupils regionwide, there are only 351,838 available seats which translate into a shortage of 1,486 chairs. For secondary level, there are 121,577 students but the available chairs are 120,044 which means the region has a shortage of 1, 529 chairs.

DSWD Regional Director Violeta Cruz said assessment was conducted to determine the existing number of the supply side for the Pantawid Pamilya program which include the facilities in schools.

“Our dilemma now is the lack of chairs in the schools that is why we need to ask assistance from different agencies and stakeholders to help address the shortage,” Criuz said.

PIA Regional Director Purita Licas, who is a member of the Regional Advisory Council for 4Ps, suggested that the confiscated logs from the environment department be donated to schools to be utilized for armchairs of the students as one strategy to resolve the problem.

“DENR has been donating confiscated logs to DepEd for school building construction but given the fact that there is a finding on the shortage of chairs in some schools, we, therefore, request DENR to donate more logs for the chairs,” Licas said.

On his part, DENR Regional Technical Director Wilfredo Malvar stated that they have donated several confiscated logs to DepEd which were already utilized in school building construction as well as in making furniture that are needed by students such as chairs and tables.

He stated that they prioritize schools in the donation of the confiscated logs and they will add some more lumber to make chairs for the pupils and students who do not have chairs in schools in the region.