City eyes conversion of felled trees into classroom chairs

The city government is mulling the possibility of using some of the more than 100 trees  felled by Super Typhoon ‘Egay’ in the Summer Capital as lumber to be converted into chairs that would be used in classrooms.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong said in an interview at City Hall, August 14, that with the start of classes in all public schools slated on August 29, the critical problem of lack of classrooms and chairs has once again reared its ugly head.

The Mayor said he discussed the idea of donating some of the trees to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the said purpose with the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) under lawyer Rhenan Diwas.

He stressed, however, that coordination must first be made with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on the possibility of turning these trees into classroom chairs or desks.

“Hindi naman basta-basta kaagad ma-convert into chairs iyan at kailangan muna i-dry at mga live trees pa iyan na meron pang resins. Kaya kailangan muna i-dry natin yung trees bago gamitin,” the Mayor explained.

He had a virtual meeting, August 16, with DedEd Baguio schools division officer-in-charge Soraya Faculo, Councilor Vladimir Cayabas, chair of the city council’s committee on education, and other officers of the Local School Board.

The Mayor wanted to make sure that all city schools, especially those damaged by the typhoon, are ready for the opening of classes for the school year 2023-2024.

He also lauded the DepEd for spearheading this year’s successful conduct of ‘Brigada Eskwela’ with the theme, “Bayanihan para sa Matatag na Paaralan”.-Gaby B. Keith