DENR-Davao Transforms Seized Lumber into School Armchairs Through TESDA Partnership
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Davao Region (DENR-Davao) has successfully repurposed approximately 9,000 board feet of confiscated forest products into much-needed school armchairs. This innovative initiative involved a donation to the Department of Education (DepEd), providing a sustainable solution to classroom furniture shortages in public schools.
Collaborative Effort with TESDA for Skills Training
The lumber was processed by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) through its Provincial Training Center in Davao Oriental. This work was integrated into the Carpentry NC II program, allowing trainees to gain hands-on experience while contributing to a community project. From the donated wood, these trainees produced 171 new armchairs, which were formally turned over to Sanghay Elementary School under TESDA’s “Bangko sa Kabataan” project.
Addressing Critical Shortages in Education
Officials noted that Second District Representative Cheeno Miguel D. Almario initiated the request for available lumber from DENR and allocated funds to TESDA for the conversion process. This move aimed to tackle the persistent lack of classroom furniture, a pressing issue highlighted by recent reports. According to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom 2), DepEd faces a shortage of about 165,000 classroom chairs, forcing around 5 million students to attend classes in aisles due to insufficient seating.
Scaling Up Production Nationwide
TESDA has expanded the production of armchairs from confiscated logs as part of a broader government effort to augment classroom furniture across the country. In a report released in November 2025, TESDA disclosed that it produced 58,881 armchairs and delivered 57,621 to DepEd schools under its furniture production project. This scaling up demonstrates a commitment to leveraging resources for educational support.
Community Impact and Trainee Success
In Davao, 75 students from Barangay Sanghay completed the TVET Carpentry NC II program under the “Bangko sa Kabataan: Maayong Edukasyon Para sa Maayong Kaugmaon” project. These trainees fabricated the armchairs using the confiscated wood, with a ceremony celebrating their achievement and the formal donation to DepEd. TESDA Davao emphasized that this initiative not only provided essential furniture but also highlighted the trainees’ successful fabrication of 172 armchairs, contributing meaningfully to the community.
Additional Disposition of Forest Products
In related news, DENR-Davao reported that 4,168 cubic meters of forest products stockpiled at Hallmark Mining Corp. are being prepared for turnover to DENR for proper disposition. This underscores ongoing efforts to manage seized resources responsibly and repurpose them for public benefit.
Overall, this project exemplifies a multi-agency collaboration that transforms confiscated materials into valuable educational assets, addressing both environmental concerns and classroom needs in the Davao region.
