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Last 2020, the Provincial Operations Office (POO) of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Zamboanga Sibugay headed by Provincial Link Evalinda Jimeno went to a far-flung area where services of government could hardly reach to assess the situation of an indigenous tribe and provide social services to the needy.

Sitio Logdeck, a Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA) in the municipality of Kabasalan, serves as a sanctuary for the Subanen tribe, an indigenous people group who resides near a river in the mountains.

During the first visit, it was shockingly and utterly sad that children do not even know what a toothbrush is. This fueled the desire of the 4Ps employees to help this community. A 6-hour trail was set to deliver goods and services to the poor Subanen people who are also members of the 4Ps-Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) program.

The second visit resulted to an additional available grade level in primary education from Grade 2 to Grade 4.

Last July 15-19, 2024, we went back to Sitio Logdeck to conduct a Bata-Balik Eskwela (BBE) campaign which encourages not-attending-school children to enroll and keep an active attendance in school.

Prior to the visit, the team lobbied to the Department of Education (DepEd) the possibility of elevating the grade level in the area to which the DepEd verbally committed to work on offering 5th Grade level. Slowly, but surely, we see progress in the GIDA and we are positively hopeful that soon after, a full elementary education will be offered for IP children.

We also paid a visit to the Office of the Provincial Governor of Zamboanga Sibugay, Hon. Ann K. Hofer to discuss the findings that we noted on children and youth within the Zamboanga Sibugay Province. Additionally, the office of the good Governor also provided school bags to be donated to children in Sitio Logdeck.

Furthermore, the Local Government of Kabasalan also provided school supplies as a support to the Bata-Balik Eskwela campaign.

On the other hand, the DSWD team contributed some amount to serve spaghetti to children during the distribution of back-to-school items.