DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) engineers from across Luzon Thursday, December 5, drove back to their respective offices onboard brand new service vehicles after turnover rites at the Mitsubishi Carworld Pampanga showroom in the City of San Fernando.

The 88 brand new top of the line Mitsubishi Strada units are part of the first batch of service vehicles for the DepEd, with another fleet of about 168 to be turned over early next year.

DepEd undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua said the acquisition of the vehicles stemmed from the concerns of engineers regarding mobility particularly when they have to go to far-flung areas to carry on their tasks.

“How can you expect our engineers to give an objective report when they just hitch a ride with contractors? So we decided to work out these service vehicles which took us three years,” he said.

“So now, you have this first batch of 4X4 pick-up trucks we are providing our workforce. By late January or late February next year, we will be procuring about 168 more of this type of vehicles together with almost 110 passenger vans for the different divisions,” Del Pascua added.

For his part, DepEd Central Luzon director Nicolas Capulong said the vehicles will be very useful in reaching far-flung schools which need assistance the most.

“With the issuance of our service vehicles, now there is no reason for us, especially our engineers, not to reach the far-flung areas especially our schools considered as last mile schools which need most our assistance,” he said.

Meanwhile, Laus Group of Companies Executive Director Diorella Laus and Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Alfie Adriano expressed their continuing support to DepEd in its thrust to deliver quality education.

“It is with heartfelt gratitude that we promise to continuously support DepEd in its quest to deliver quality education all over the country,” they said. (JTD)

Ⓒ SUNSTAR PAMPANGA