Address                 : Sto. Niño Street, Dapa, Surigao del Norte
Telephone No.       : n/a
FAX No.                 : n/a
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History

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS It was in the summer of 1995 when the idea of putting up a school for the welfare of poor but deserving students in Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Surigao del Norte came about. It was a brainchild of then Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) – Caraga Regional Director Dr. Sol Matugas. The school, which came to be known as the SIARGAO ISLAND INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (SIIT) was born with the able helping hand of the director's son Francisco Jose Matugas, plus the financial support of the Siargao Foundation set up by her husband, former Surigao del Norte Governor Francisco Matugas.

Harnessing her expertise in documentation, in compliance with permit application requirements, and in the installation of all necessary equipment and facilities prescribed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Dr. Matugas easily obtained permits to offer Bachelor in Elementary Education (BEEd), Bachelor in Secondary Education (BSEd) and Associate in Computer Science courses by June 1996.

Classes during its first year of operation were held in three classrooms at Gerona Building along Sto. Nino Street in Dapa, Surigao del Norte. The late Dr. Genevieve Guda was designated as the School Director. With her were three full-time teachers Raul de Castro, Jr., Jonathan Etcuban and Rey Baquirquir from Cebu City. Part-time teachers from the island were also hired to complement the teaching staff.

In just a matter of eight years since it opened with only 148 students, SIIT’s enrolment quadrupled to over 500 students by 2003. The phenomenal growth in enrolment was brought about by the expansion of course offerings. This then required the opening of additional classrooms in two more buildings along Sto. Nino Street.

On March 20, 1998, the first Commencement Exercises were held for the 15 graduates of its two-year Associate in Computer Science course. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Regional Director Enrique Einar was the commencement speaker.

The year 2000 marked a new milestone in the history of SIIT, when the government granted recognition to its two-year Computer Secretarial course. With an initial enrolment of only 15 students, it did not take long for the new program to attract about 50 students. It was also during this year when the first batch of candidates for graduation from the baccalaureate degrees received their diplomas. Twelve students graduated with the degree of BSEd and 43 graduated with the degree of BSEEd. The candidates took pride in having Regional Director Joanna Cuenca of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Caraga Region, as their commencement speaker.

By 2003, permits were issued allowing SIIT to offer two new four-year courses, Bachelor of Science in Office Administration (BSOA) and Bachelor of Science in Criminology (BSCrim).

Two thousand five was yet another turning point in the history of the institute when the construction of the new Don Mariano Matugas building was completed. The availability of more classrooms, new equipment, laboratory and other facilities, including an Internet facility, encouraged more students to study at SIIT, which resulted in an increase of enrolment from 500 to almost 700 during the first semester of academic year 2005-2006.

Despite the continuing economic downturn that heavily affected enrolment of other tertiary schools with higher tuition fees, SIIT’s enrolment continually grew due to the opening of more academic programs, such as the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS), Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT), majors in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics for BSEd, plus the two-year Licensed Practical Nursing Course (LPN), which is duly accredited by TESDA. Other schools’ loss became SIIT’s gain because students who could no longer afford their tuition fees had to turn to SIIT as a fallback for their continued studies.

Address: Cataba-an, Dapa, Surigao del Norte

Contact Persons:

Edelito C. Sangco - President

Sergio C. Dagooc - General Manager

Phone: (086) 826-4555

Mobile: +63 919-8371190 - +63 917-3202092

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

HISTORY

The island was in darkness until the birth of Siargao Electric Cooperative, Incorporated (SIARELCO), a non-stock, nonprofit distribution utility organized by virtue of Presidential Degree No. 269 under the supervision of the   National Electrification Administration (NEA).

SIARELCO was incorporated on September 8, 1979 and become the 114th Electric Cooperative recognized in the Philippines by virtue of Republic Act 6038 (1969) as amended by P.D. 269 (1973) and P.D. 1645 (1979). It is located at Catabaan, Dapa, Surigao del Norte. Its area coverage is composed of nine municipalities and 132 barangays. The nine (9) municipalities are divided into six (6) districts only

The cooperative availed loans from NEA for the construction of its distribution system. Construction of distribution lines was first done by Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific, Inc. (AG & P). But when typhoon Nitang hit the area on September 4, 1984, the constructed line was damaged and the re-construction was done by Force Account.

The first energization took place on January 15, 1985 only in the municipality of Dapa and for only six hours every night using two old unit 150 KW each Cummins gensets from Kalinga Apayao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (KAELCO). Subsequent energization of the other municipalities took place making the eight towns energized on the following dates:

Dapa - January 15, 1985

General Luna - May 15, 1985

Del Carmen - July 13, 1985

San Isidro - September 20, 1985

Pilar - October 9, 1985

Sta. Monica - February 1, 1986

San Benito - July 25, 1986

Burgos - December 6, 1986

The gensets broke down due to overloading. A new generating set with a 364 KW capacity was reinforced by the National Power Corporation. Even though load shedding is implemented, still the generating sets broke down one after the other. The cooperative was filled with disappointments and the islanders lost hope.

By then, NEA saw that the solution to the problem was to draw the energy supply from the Maria Cristina Power Grid at Lake Lanao.

With West Germany's help Php 117,882,385.00 was produced for the purpose. Two units of 5MVA substations were installed, one in Mainland Mindanao at Cagdianao, Claver, Surigao del Norte and another in Can-uwak, Dapa, Surigao del Norte.

Submarine cables were laid connecting the Mindanao Mainland and Bucas Grande Island, East Bucas and Dapa. The construction of 26 kilometers overhead transmission line traversing the islands of Bucas Grande, Middle Bucas and East Bucas on June 4, 1990 was completed on December 7, 1991, under the supervision of NEA engineers.

March 20, 1992 marks the zenith of SIARELCO'S achievements when the cooperative availed a round-the-clock energy supply from Maria Cristina hydro power.

The town of Socorro which is located in Bucas Grande Island was energized only on June 16, 1993 after the energization of submarine cable in Cagdianao, Claver, Surigao del Norte.

Years later, SIARELCO keep on improving and providing efficient and steadfast service to its member/consumers and because of this, the cooperative received awards from National Electrification Administration (NEA) and has been a consistent category A+ cooperative of the last 9, years.

After several years of operation, SIARELCO encountered huge challenges. On May 2009, the 5MVA substation in Cagdiano, Claver experienced transformer problem that resulted to power interruption in the entire coverage area. Several tests during the preventive maintenance and survey conducted by CESTCO Inc. reveals technical problem of its winding. To get a second opinion, the Coop hired the Services of Baseline Enertech Company, Inc. to conduct another test of the same kind and to confirm its previous findings. It therefore selected the same result in the problem of its Transformer Turn Ratio unbalanced reading and the presence of Combustible gases in its transformer oil. So, Dissolve Gas Analysis (DGA) was conducted and it was recommended to be un-tank/ decommissioned the soonest possible time to avoid further severe damaged. It is recommended further, to acquire a spare unit 5MVA substation so that the load connection will be temporarily transferred in it for the duration of the repair in order to have a continuous supply of power in the entire Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands. On April 2, 2010, another crisis was encountered by the coop when its 10 kilometers submarine cable laid along Brgy. Cagdiano, Claver and Doña Helen, Socorro, Surigao del Norte linking the island to the mainland grid, experienced short circuit resulting to the total blackout in the whole island of Siargao and Bucas Grande from April 2-14, 2010.

SIARELCO give priority on the acquisition of a spare unit 5MVA substation in Cagdianao, Claver near the old substation of the coop. while the construction is in progress, another predicament happened when a strong lightning hit the partially damaged old 5MVA substation in Cagdianao, Claver on Nov. 14, 2010 which resulted to a total damaged of the said substation. Again, a total black out was experienced in the entire coverage of the coop. In order to immediately restore the power, the management expedite the completion of the spare unit substation despite the fact that the construction is not 100% completed energization of said substation took place on Nov. 18, 2010.

Considering that the spare unit substation is rated only at 69 KV/13.2 KV compared to the old Substation which is rated 69 KV/ 34.5 KV, these is a need to replace the 40 units distribution transformers installed along the Transmission Line located in the Municipality and barangays of Socorro and Islets of Dapa as a consequence of using a 69 KV/ 13.2 KV substation. The coop’s Distribution Line encountered low voltage problem especially in ones located far from the substation. This low voltage problem resulted to the increase of the cooperative systems losses.

The repair, rewinding and rehabilitation of the old 5 MVA substation which was done in Manila was completed last August 2011 and it was successfully energized last September 10, 2011 bringing the coop back to its normal operation. Thus, eliminate its problem on low voltage.

Despite all these hindrances, SIARELCO continuously maintained its outstanding performance with notable achievements bringing life through electricity in the entire Siargao and Bucas Grande Island.

Source: Siarelco 

Dapa National High School started its humble beginning as Dapa Barangay High School way back 1972. The school with only about 200 students was located at Dapa Central Elementary School.

Just before the advent of the new society, under the age of Martial law, many social changes came sprouting like mushrooms everywhere. Stresses of varying degrees particularly in political and economic structures have been felt by people from different levels especially those of low profile status in depressed areas. While these prevailing stresses were keeping ahead, DAPA BARANGAY HIGH SCHOOL, the forerunner of the present day school, had to cling tenaciously to survive from her being newly created and established institution. This was established in 1967 but classes started in June 1968 with an initial enrolment of 42 of which were children of indigent and poor parents.

The establishment of the school was through the efforts of the incumbent Mayor Blas B. Cervantes with the help of the majority of the barangay leaders of the municipality. Fortunately, it was at this time when the Division of Siargao was created with Mr. Jesus P. Catre as the first designated Provincial Superintendent of Schools of the said division.

To satisfy the educational and social need of the people of Dapa and its environs, he utilized the services of Mr. Hernando S. Navarro and Mr. PelagioAlmaden who were at that time vocational teachers of Dapa Central Elementary School to organize the classes following the contents of the old curriculum.

In view of lack and or unavailability of qualified teachers to teach in the newly created Barangay High School, Mr. AdventinoGopico , the Principal of Dapa Central Elementary School and District Supervisor Pablo S. Consigna utilized further the services of the elementary school teachers in the persons of Mr. I. Yangson and Mrs. D. Murillo in addition to Mr. H. Navarro and Mr. P. Almaden . These teachers served as part-timers of the school and were truly considered the pioneer of our present-day National High School.

The following year, the Barangay High School with an increase enrolment of 102 students was changed into Municipal High School through the efforts exerted by the incumbent Mayor Blas B. Cervantes after being advised by the Superintendent J. Catre for the financial set-up. This was not materialized because the barangay at that time could not financially sustain in maintaining the salaries of the teachers and employees and the physical maintenances as well considering the increase of enrolment and the need for additional hiring of new and permanent teachers.

Years after, the continuous increase in enrolment under the leaderships of Mrs. Clotilde Navarro –Abrena and Mrs. Corazon Flores who acted simultaneously as Officer In Charge of the school necessitated employment of more teachers.

In the early part of 1977, the school was converted into a National High School, DAPA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL by an approved BatasangPambansa authored by IBP Hon. Constantino C. Navarro, Sr. through the recommendation of Superintendent Francisco Mendoza. The nationalization of the school from Municipal High School consequently led to the transfer of the same at the back of Municipal building donated by Ex-Mayor Blas B. Cervantes and Hon. Constantino C. Navarro, Sr.

(Source: dapanhs)

Read more: Kapitolyo nan Siargao