NEWS RELEASE | 𝐀𝐂𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐄𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐃𝐁 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐀𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬
Oct 1, 2026 - 3 minutes read
AGUSAN DEL SUR, September 22–23, 2026 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐄𝐝) 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚, 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 (𝐀𝐃𝐁), 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝐎𝐔𝐅) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 (𝐏𝐌𝐒), 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 (𝐋𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐇𝐒 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐱) 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟐 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟑.
The two schools are among the five identified schools by the DepEd in coordination with ADB. The activity is part of the preparations for the proposed Advancing Climate-smart, Quality, Inclusive and Resilient Education (ACQUIRE) Project, which aims to support the development of more climate-responsive and future-ready learning environments for 107 secondary schools in the Philippines.
The field visit team included Maria Ruth R. Edradan, Education Program Supervisor of DepEd Caraga; Leonard Matias of the ADB; Regine Camille A. Esquillo and Ericka M. Barrozo of the DepEd Central Office, and Jeffrey Q. Apat, Education program Supervisor of DepEd Agusan del Sur. They worked with school officials, teachers, and other stakeholders to examine existing facilities and gather information needed for the project's environmental safeguards planning.
During the first day of the visit, the team met with the Agusan del Sur National Science High School learners, teachers and the the School Head Mrs. Norelyn M. Elladora, to discuss the purpose of the activity and the school's current conditions and needs. The group also inspected different areas of the campus, including its infrastructure, drainage systems, and waste management practices. Beyond the site inspection, the team conducted focus group discussions and consultations with stakeholders. These discussions provided an opportunity for school personnel to raise concerns, describe existing practices, and identify areas where future interventions could contribute to a safer and more sustainable school environment.
The team proceeded to New Visayas National High School (Lapinigan NHS Annex) on the following day, where a similar process was conducted. The school principal Edgar B. Eslier, teachers, learners and other stakeholders participated in discussions and consultations concerning environmental management, safety, school facilities, and possible improvements.
Rather than focusing only on the physical condition of the campuses, the consultations allowed the visiting team to hear directly from the people working and learning in the schools. Their observations and experiences provided additional information that may not be fully captured through site inspection alone. The information gathered during the two-day field visit was presented to the Schools Division Superintendent Josita B. Carmen, CESO V, which will be used in the preparation of the Environmental Due Diligence Report, one of the requirements being considered in the development of the ACQUIRE Project with the goal of establishing STEM Innovation and TechPro Hubs in the region.
𝘉𝘺 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘙𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘯
𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳, 𝘊𝘓𝘔𝘋
END
For more information, contact (085) 221-1151, 0961-737-0873, or 0915-808-4734. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph