■ Harley F. Palangchao
The two most populated secondary schools in Baguio City started using the new dental chairs complete with other equipment courtesy of the Cordillera Golfers Foundation, Inc. (CGFI).
The two dental chairs were formally turned over by CGFI officials led by president Arnel Peil to the Department of Education-Baguio Schools Division led by OIC Superintendent Soraya Faculo at the Baguio City National High School on Oct. 13.
DepEd-CAR Director Estela Leon-Cariño along with BCNHS Principal Whitney Dawayen and other school officials served as witnesses during turnover rites.
The other dental chair was installed at Pines City NHS.
City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who graced the ceremonial tee off of the inaugural CGFI Invitational Tournament last May, was represented by VJ Cawis, who also witnessed the turnover ceremony.
Dental Officers Maria Michelle Tauli of BCNHS and Jenny P. Orpiano of PCNHS were grateful to the Baguio SDO for endorsing the proposal to upgrade the dental chairs to ensure better oral health services rendered to the students.
Prior to the setting up of a new dental chair, BCNHS has been usinganold dental chair for more than 30 years.
Peil said GCFI could only claim success in its inaugural tournament when all its pledges to the SDOs in the Cordillera have been delivered.
Dawayen along with DepEd officials led by Cariño, for their part, were one in acknowledging the dental chairs will have a great impact on the overall health development of the learners.
Earlier, the Baguio SDO submitted a proposal to the CGFI for the donation of two dental chairs, as it claimed that dental services is one of the crucial health services being rendered by the two biggest public secondary schools in the Cordillera to the students.
The CGFI board approved the request, and also allocated P300,000 worth of assistance to the other SDOs in Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Tabuk City.
The funds were part of the proceeds of the inaugural CGFI tournament held at Camp John Hay Golf Club and Pinewoods Golf & Country Club that drew thousand players from Luzon to Mindanao.
CGFI has already rolled out its outreach mission in Benguet, Abra, and Mountain Province, including Baguio City.
It will soon reach out to the SDOs of Apayao, Kalinga, Tabuk City, and Ifugao anytime this year. – Harley F. Palangchao
