Monday, September 29, 2008 Mendoza: Disaster risk reduction, a must By Lorenzo E. Mendoza The Scribe's Corner
DIRECTOR'S Cut: (This portion features the thoughts of DepEd 11 Regional Director Susana Teresa B. Estigoy, Ceso 4 to all stakeholders and recipients of the efforts to improve the basic education) Director Estigoy's message to the this year's winners and runner up in the National Search for Most Outstanding Implementers of Literacy Programs, "The recognition received by the cities of Davao and Tagum, the Municipality of Laak and MIRDC-SMC is also a recognition of the collaboration and partnership of the local government, the private sectors and DepEd in promoting literacy." We have to uphold and live true to our battlecry: "Ituloy ang Karunungan, Labanan ang Kahirapan!"
Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte enthused after Davao City was declared as the Most Outstanding Implementer of Literacy Programs for Highly Urbanized City in the National Literacy Conference and Awards, "I could not think that I should be awarded for the things that I have to do because I am supposed to do it and I am paid to do it."
"I am as proud as you with this triumph," Duterte added.
On the other hand, Mayor Rey T. Uy of Tagum City, this year's Most Outstanding Implementer of Literacy Programs for Component City, said: "With the help of all the sectors we tapped and volunteered to our efforts of educating our people in the City particularly the children, the out of school youth, the unemployed and those who have no access to formal education, finally we won again after 2001".
"We are doing it religiously with all our hearts and minds focused on those programs that we have been doing for the last 3 to 4 years. These are really programs that should be done to benefit my constituents and not just for show, not just to win awards," Uy further emphasized.
"We in Tagum City are very much concern in providing life-long education to everyone because this is their passport to succeed in life," Uy concluded.
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A culture of safe and disaster risk resilient members of the school communities who are empowered, responsive and accountable citizens in an atmosphere of collaboration and synergy is the vision of the Department of Education Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO).
The DepEd DRRMO seeks to maintain an effective programs and projects on disaster risk reduction in school communities to support the quest for quality education through synchronized and integrated efforts.
Its main goal is to reduce the risk of disaster in school communities through effective programs and projects thereby contributing to the achievement of quality education.
Among the important concerns of DepEd DRRMO are: Prevention and Mitigation, Preparedness, Emergency Response and Recovery through Rehabilitation and Synchronization.
On September 24-25, DepEd Region 11 conducted a Two Day Seminar on DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction Management System spearheaded by the Administrative Division under the leadership of Ms. Teresita G. Tambagan, Chief Administrative Officer.
Those, who were invited to be the resource persons of the seminar, were Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Liza R. Mazo, Head of DSWD Region 11 Crisis Intervention Unit, Ms. Pedrita Dimakiling, Dr. Romeo T. Balaba, ES II, Sesu, Mr. Felipe A. Non Jr., ES II-Sesu and Engineer Rene Agbayani, Regional Physical Facilities Coordinator.
To once again produce another Benralph S. Yu, Davao City NHS alumnus and last year's multi-awarded campus journalist, the elementary and secondary education divisions of DepEd Region 11 had conducted the Regional Training for Campus Journalists and School Paper Advisers.
The elementary pupil-writers and advisers spent three days in San Roque ES for their training while the secondary participants stayed at the National Education Academy of the Philippines (Neap) 11, formerly RELC.
Veteran speakers and practicing journalists were invited to give lectures and workshops and provide critiques to the participants' works during the training under the close supervision of the two indefatigable chiefs of the elementary and secondary division of DepEd, Mrs. Emelita R. Salvado and Dr. Luzminda O. Onor. Dr. Chanette Cadiente, this writer, Dr. Mary Jeanne Aldeguer and Dr. Carmencita Diamante are the frontrunners of the activity as part of our role as Regional Campus Journalism Coordinators.
It was a well-attended affair that started well and ended well despite some minor hitches. Sun.Star's Stella Estremera and Marianne Saberon-Abalayan, Mindanao Times' Amy Cabusao and The Edge's Moises Billacura have provided the participants their expertise in Editorial Writing, Feature Writing and Sports Writing, respectively, together with old reliables Lilia P. Calegan, Eduardo Fernandez, Virginia F. Solejon and Epifania Tujan and the new breed of campus journalism pool of trainers, Lorenzo Balili Jr., Romulo Peralta and Gemima Galang.
You can access DepEd Updates, latest issuances and other relevant information through our website: http://www.region11.deped.gov.ph. For comments, suggestions and/or contributions, email me at renzthescribe@yahoo.com. or visit http://renzmendoza.multiply.com.
For photos and other relevant information. For queries, complains and other concerns, call DepED Region 11 at (082) 227-9342 or fax to (082) 227-1102.
(Mr. Lorenzo E. Mendoza, M.A. is the Regional Supervisor in Filipino for Secondary and the Regional Information and Media Officer of DepEd Region 11 and currently designated as Regional Library Hub Coordinator.)
