WITH enrolment nearing its extended deadline on July 15, 2020, the Department of Education (DepEd) is also gaining substantial support from various government agencies and private sectors who believe that continuity of education shall be a primordial responsibility of each well-meaning group or individual especially in this time of crisis. The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), the communication arm of the government has time and again been offering to DepEd the free use of government stations in its TV-Based Modality. Below is the statement of support by PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar:
The Presidential Communications Operations Office has been at the forefront of disseminating vital information to the general public and the media on the government’s responses against the Covid-19 pandemic. Apart from this responsibility, we have also undertaken collaborations with essential government agencies in adapting to the "new normal" while the country remains under the threat of the virus.
With the Department of Education’s (DepEd) policy of adopting a blended learning strategy, to maintain compliance with the government’s minimum health standards and in conformity with President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncements, PCOO has committed to the DepEd’s cause on the creation and production of the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs) output and video materials for our students.
Following the closure of schools, physical access to education was halted as a response to the threats by the pandemic. Therefore, harnessing and maximizing available technologies, such as the television, radio, and internet as viable platforms for lesson delivery for independent- and parental-supervised learners has been considered. As such, the usage of TV and radio, apart from social media and the internet, are truly accessible to learners, especially to the indigent and remote communities.
With our commitment to this endeavor in providing excellent and uninterrupted learning with the DepEd, we recommended to create and produce at least 352 MELC outputs and video materials each month, that will be at least 30 minutes to an hour-long, to be moderated and taught by DepEd teachers over the platforms that will be launched simultaneously with the opening of schools on August 24, 2020. We also recommended distributing 12 to 48 videos to different regions to assist the DepEd in our collective transition to the "new normal."
This recommended participation is aimed at converting the K-12 program and curriculum lessons of DepEd into materials, which will be managed, produced, covered and distributed by the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13) and Philippine Broadcasting Services (PBS), for the consumption of our students throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, DepEd teachers will be trained by IBC-13 and PBS as broadcasters/actors, and editors in this proposed endeavor.
Under this project, we also proposed that IBC-13 and PBS will undertake production management, post-production, network re-branding (station IDs, OBB/CBB of shows) and the distribution of programs to other TV and radio stations.
To further optimize the PBS and IBC-13’s frequencies, we are partnering with cable operators nationwide and utilizing the power of the internet, by maximizing our official websites, social media accounts and YouTube channels, to reach at least 18 million of our public school learners.
While this proposed assistance remains a pending recommendation to DepEd, our overall commitment to contribute to our nation’s collective development, especially to that of our youth and our students, in this time of pandemic remains resolute and unwavering as we continue to fight Covid-19 and to heal as one nation.