CATARMAN, Northern Samar, -This would be the first time in years that an Education Secretary is to visit the province, hence all public schools here are all agog in welcoming Sec. Florencio “Butch” B. Abad.

Since last week, heads of staffs of Catarman National High School, Catarman I and II Central School and Lope De Vega National High School have been busy cleaning up their grounds and repainting their buildings and walls, some of which were redone when the paints were washed away by typhoon “Winnie.”

For days teachers have been busy practicing their folk dances and songs that they would present during the programs for Sec. Abad. An instant “division uniform” – a tierno of white blouse and brown pants and skirts costing P500 – which the teachers would wear during the secretary’s visit were rushed to dressmakers.

According to Helena Alumbres, principal of the Catarman National High School, which is the venue of the Educator’s Congress today, she “solicited” 26 gallons of paints from Catarman Mayor Francisco Rosales Jr. as her school has no sufficient funds. A part of the cost in the repair of their schools toilets and buildings were solicited from parents of their students, she said.

Alumbres expects as delegation of 250 schools supervisors and principals in the Educator’s Congress, which would be attended by Sec. Abad.

“It is the secretary who is coming, kasiriud man kun diri man la kami mag-andam san am lugar. Nakakaintindi man an mga parents, excited sira sa pag-abot ni Sir,” she said, referring to the education secretary.

Division Superintendent Thelma Quitalig was also pleased to announce that among the three provinces in Samar Island, it is here in Northern Samar that Sec. Abad chose to spend his time overnight. This is opportune time for them, Dr. Quitalag said, to showcase the efficiency of their instructions to the visiting secretary.

The Schools Division of Northern Samar was second in the National Achievement Tests (NAT) division level.

Tomorrow, Abad will be visiting Lope De Vega National High School which topped the NAT at the individual school level nationwide.

“He (Abad) was curious…he wanted to see what is there in LVNHS that made it number one,” Quitalag told LSDE.

Governor Raul Daza, Vice Governor Guido Lavin, and all SP members, municipal mayors and vice mayors of the 24 towns here are also expected to be present at the Governor’s residence today foe the arrival of Sec. Abad.

A Press conference with local media will also be held at Governor’s residence.

Meanwhile, some teachers and school heads are also hoping foe a chance to “confer” with the education secretary about some of their concern s if given a chance to speak with Sec. Abad.

Among the concerns that they said they would raise are the increase in and direct access to their Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) in their schools.