Saturday, December 20, 2008 Foundation backs barangay reading centers
BONTOC, Mountain Province -- An international book foundation has recently committed its utmost support for the establishment of barangay reading and research centers in the 145 barangays of this landlocked province.
The project is being initiated by the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC), the only state-run higher education institution in the Cordillera.
Efren Balajadja, director of Asia Foundation's Book of Asia program, told MPSPC administration of their willingness to provide the needed assistance in the establishment of the reading and research centers since such initiative of the school is in line with their program to bring education to the grassroots level.
The commitment of Asia Foundation came after MPSPC worked out the establishment of a barangay reading and research center each in Barangays Kayan West, Sumadel, Kayan East, Masla, Lobon and Poblacion, all in Tadian town, which is considered as the first of its kind in the country where a state-run higher educational institution has initiated such program.
Dr. Nieves Dacyon, MPSPC president, said the program is aimed at preparing the younger generation to have a good foundation for higher education considering the tedious processes that would be hurdled before one could earn a degree.
She said the positive response of Asia Foundation to the program is an indication that the put up of barangay reading and research centers in the remote areas of the province would be attainable especially if the provincial and municipal governments would come into the picture and share in the burden of the endeavor.
Since the establishment of the center in the barangays in Tadian town, MPSPC had been reportedly receiving numerous requests from other barangays for the school to donate books and other relevant reading materials that would beef up their potentials to put up the same centers in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
Under MPSPC's agreement with the barangays, the school shall provide free technical assistance to the centers whenever necessary, continue the support to the recipient barangays in terms of book donations whenever there are available ones and monitor the development of the reading and research centers.
On the other hand, the recipients of the book donations shall maintain the donated books in the barangay reading and research centers for the use of their clients, make available all donated books and journals for the use of the clients and the community, report all available statistics to the donor and assist in library-related projects, researches and undertakings of MPSPC, both Tadian and Bontoc campuses.
Dr. Dacyon said the school administration welcomes any donor of used but still relevant books for the library and school as well as the barangay reading and research centers, which were just created.
Moreover, she encouraged exchange of local government unit policies and ordinances in the barangay reading and research centers to boost the information and education campaign to their respective constituents on their programs and projects. (DAS)
