THE Department of Education (DepEd) Davao Region has just celebrated its 47th Founding Anniversary and this is a wonderful time to appreciate all its transformations.
It is recorded in the three-decade Souvenir Book how DepEd Davao Region started. Thanks to Dioscoro B. Vicentino who allotted a page for that. He is also the renowned composer of the Davao Region Hymn played at every flag ceremony and important event.
DepEd (named the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports) Region XI was organized on an ad hoc status in June 1975 and officially operated in July 1975. That time, it was composed of seven divisions namely Davao City, General Santos City, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, South Cotabato, and Surigao del Sur. These comprise Southern Mindanao.
Sarangani was added in 1993 making it eight divisions. When Caraga Region was created through Republic Act (RA) No. 7901 in 1995, Surigao del Sur was transferred to that region but Sultan Kudarat was added to Region XI. After two years, Sultan Kudarat was returned to Region XII. General Santos City and South Cotabato became part of that region too.
The Division of Compostela Valley was inaugurated as an interim division on June 28, 1999. Other divisions were created such as Island Garden City of Samal on August 19, 1999, Tagum City on June 3, 2003, and Panabo City later joined the list.
The Municipality of Digos as an interim city of Davao del Sur was created through RA No. 8798 in 2000, which paved the way for the creation of the Division of Digos City. The Division of Mati City was launched in 2012 through RA No. 9048. Davao Occidental was created through RA No. 10360 in 2013 and it became the newest schools division.
To date, Region XI has 11 schools divisions.
The first office was located at the PTA Grounds (now People’s Park). From 1975 to 1991, it became the home of the Regional Office personnel until it was razed to the ground by a fire on October 15, 1991.
They transferred to the RELC (now RELC-NEAP) building along Quirino Avenue on October 16 and made it their temporary office. After four years, a new structure was built on F. Torres Street on December 4, 1995.
I was only eight when I first saw the old building of DepEd. My mother, who dedicated most of her professional life to DepEd, would bring me now and then to the office. Yes, it looked like an old wooden building and you can see athletes playing and practicing on the PTA Grounds.
Some three personnel whom I saw at that age are now my officemates. Yes, 22 years later, I came back to DepEd not as that child lingering at the windows to watch the athletes but as a public servant ready to serve more.
For 20 years now, I saw how leaders and teachers try to improve the quality of education. It is not an easy journey as the number of learners and teachers increases every year. But I have also witnessed how DepEd finds ways for children to learn holistically – from learning the competencies in the curriculum to engaging in sports, writing and reporting contests, talent showcases, science projects, research, and more.
The teachers are always given opportunities to attend training and seminars to help improve both their professional and personal journeys.
Leaders come and go. But Region XI is blessed to have Regional Director (RD) Allan G. Farnazo and Assistant RD Maria Ines C. Asuncion as its leaders. They always inspire the DepEd workforce to create and innovate. With them, DepEd Davao Region becomes more promising.