CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) – The Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) held its State of the Region Address (SORA) and Stakeholders’ Convergence on Feb. 10, 2025 at Waterworld Hotel, Mandaue City.
With the theme, “Nurturing Connections, Strengthening Future,” DepEd 7 celebrated its accomplishments and progress, highlighted its strategic direction to strengthen education in Central Visayas, and recognized key partners and stakeholders for their invaluable contributions in shaping the agency’s success.
During his SORA speech, DepEd7 regional director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez presented their accomplishments in 2024 that have positively impacted the education sector in the region.
2024 DepEd 7 accomplishments
Jimenez emphasized that one of the standout successes of DepEd 7 is its near-perfect enrollment rate, reaching 97.1 percent in 2024.
They credited this to their partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region 7 and the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO-7) to raise awareness and encourage more Filipino learners to enroll.
To enhance the learning environment, DepEd 7 built 745 new classrooms and repaired 2,905 classrooms between 2019 and 2024.
In terms of curriculum development, Jimenez underscored their efforts in using digital resources to engage learners with an increased promotion rate of 95.47 percent, from the previous year’s 93 percent.
Jimenez added that they achieved the Guinness World Record for the largest Rondalia Ensemble, in partnership with the Let’s Play Schools on June 28, 2024.
He lauded the students from Central Visayas earning recognition at the global stage, including a first-place victory of the World Robotics Olympiad Italy Open Championship by JAPer Memorial High School, and Cebu Science High School’s 4th place win of the 2024 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in California, USA.
Through the agency’s partnerships and linkages programs with various stakeholders, DepEd7 generated P2.9 billion in 2024, which further strengthened its capacity to provide quality education.
Jimenez emphasized their dedication to continue the department’s mission of nurturing connections and strengthening the future of education in the region.
“The Department of Education Region 7 has forged its commitment in generating, strengthening, and sustaining needs specific learning and management strategies, mechanisms and interventions for the learners in the Central Visayas region,” he said. (MSH/PIA 7 Cebu)
