NEW BUILDING. Misamis Oriental officials lead the groundbreaking ceremonies of the PHP10-million worth of modern public library at the Capitol grounds in Cagayan de Oro City, Monday (June 20, 2022). The library will be built with modern facilities and equipment that hopes to urge the youth to rekindle their interest in reading books. (Photo courtesy of Misamis Oriental PIO)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official said on Monday Misamis Oriental’s modern library is expected to entice the young to visit libraries and read.
“How do we entice people to continue to go to the library? Provide them with the modern facilities they need,” said Mikhael Alan Olavides, the DPWH-10 project engineer, during the groundbreaking of the PHP10-million modern public library that will be built inside the capitol grounds here.
Olavides said there were slight delays in the start of the building construction because the budget was initially downloaded to the Misamis Oriental's 1st District Engineering Office, and not in the 2nd District Office where the library project was listed.
Provincial Librarian Richel Pajara said the modern library was a response to the changing needs of the province's constituents, especially now that the public is becoming more dependent on electronic gadgets than on reading books.
“The library focuses on the wide range of population with popular needs,” Pajara said in an interview.
The three-story provincial library building was funded under the General Appropriations Act, and part of a measure authored by Senator Sonny Angara that aims to strengthen the public library system.
Angara's proposal amended some provisions of Republic Act 7743 that upgraded libraries with electronic resources, internet connection, and modern equipment.
The DPWH-10 will lead the construction of the library which has a target completion of 120 days.
Meanwhile, Provincial Board Member Gerardo Sabal III said it took six budget deliberations before the library project was approved.
He said before the project, the library was in an area prone to flooding, and almost “nonexistent” to the public.
“As chair of the education committee (in the provincial board), the library is an important component in educating our children,” Sabal said.
He also said the provincial government advocates for children to rekindle the habit of reading books rather than spending more time on electronic gadgets.
Sabal said he noticed those who read books have more memory retention and reading comprehension skills than those who spend much time on gadgets and are lost to many online sites. (PNA)
