Skepticism. This was the first reaction to a project by the city government of Tagum to build classroom chairs, especially from political rivals of the brain behind the Care for School Chairs Program, Mayor Rey Uy.
The skepticism grew when the program extended to nearby Compostela Valley, where the mayor’s brother, Arturo, is governor. For the skeptics, it was no more than political gimmickry to perpetuate the Uys in power.
Six years later, after distributing hundreds of armchairs and desks built from seized illegal logs, the program reached Davao del Sur.
Recently, 120 yellow-painted arm chairs were delivered to the Hagonoy Annex High School in Barangay Lapu-labao, in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur.
Lea Reyes, school principal, said she had not expected her request to be granted when she sent it to Mayor Uy about three weeks ago.
Reyes said when she learned about the Tagum City program, she contacted Uy, who readily agreed to provide some of the chairs that the school needed.
Last week, Uy’s office had informed her that the chairs she requested were ready for release. Her school got 120 chairs.