CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY–Education divisions in Northern Mindanao region have bagged first place awards in a national conference, while the local government of Cagayan de Oro also had its share of glory when it won the seal of education governance.
The awards were given Thursday evening during the National Literacy Conference and Awards in Baguio City. One the biggest winners is the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Bukidnon division, which grabbed the first place for “Outstanding Literacy Program.” The division of Lanao del Norte also captured the top place for the Outstanding Local Government Unit award under the 4th-6th class municipality category.
Cagayan de Oro’s Alternative Learning System (ALS) mobile teacher Doreen D. Pabonita, meanwhile, was declared a finalist in the National ALS Teacher Achievement Recognition (NALSTAR).
“The purpose (of this conference) is to recognize government and non-government organizations’ initiatives to improve literacy and education as a whole. Mostly these initiatives are (coursed) through ALS implementers,” said Dr. Ray Butch Mahinay, DepEd CDO Division ALS Coordinator, who was present in the awarding ceremony.
Meanwhile, at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Cagayan de Oro officials received an award for Education and Governance for local government–its second in a row. The award was organized by Synergeia Foundation, PLDT and Smart Communications and other partners. Other local government units from other parts of the country also received awards.
Being the winner, Cagayan de Oro City received from PLDT/Smart communication packages amounting to P1.5 million, PHP100,000 worth of fuel from Sea Oil; playground equipment from SyCip Gorres Velayo & Company; and books from the Jesse Robredo Foundation.
The awards body recognized the local government’s initiative to improve the provision of a conducive place for learning among school children by investing so much on school buildings and classrooms construction.
“Since taking over the helm in 2013, the administration of Mayor Moreno has constructed almost 600 classrooms, and still counting, in public elementary and secondary high schools in Cagayan de Oro City to address classroom shortage,” a statement from the City Hall reads. (Nef Luczon/PNA)
