SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) — The Department of Education (DepEd)-Regional Office 1 celebrated the achievements of local government units (LGUs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) for their significant contributions to advancing literacy during the Regional Literacy Summit held recently at the National Educators Academy of the Philippines here.
The summit, which underscored the critical role of collaboration between communities and government in advancing education, highlighted exemplary literacy programs recognized through the National Literacy Awards (NLA).
The awards celebrate initiatives that enhance literacy, support learning, and foster community development across the region.
Through the NLA, LGUs and NGOs are recognized for their innovative efforts in making literacy more accessible and empowering for their communities.
Key discussions during the summit focused on training teachers, developing instructional materials, and identifying tailored learning modalities to meet students’ diverse needs.
Community involvement was underscored as essential to sustaining these literacy projects and ensuring citizens are equipped with skills that enhance personal and professional growth.
Dr. Cedric Anthony Ochoco, dean of teacher education at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-Mid La Union Campus, underscored the essential role of LGUs in advancing literacy, stating, “It is really a skill to listen. It is even more a skill to inspire and to transform—not only our lives, but also to transform others in our communities.”
His perspective reinforces LGUs’ position as catalysts for literacy, extending beyond resource provision to directly influencing community growth and empowerment.
During the workshop, Lorna Calletong, representing LGU Pugo, elaborated on their comprehensive literacy initiative, “Project Precy: A Legacy of Learning.”
Named after former Mayor Priscilla Martin, Project Precy unites all municipal agencies to promote a diverse spectrum of literacy forms, including sports, health, safety, and cultural literacy.
“This initiative involves every department, expanding support beyond DepEd to engage every sector within our municipality,” Calletong explained.
She added, “We are committed to continuously expanding Project Precy with new literacy programs that address our community’s evolving needs.”
In line with enhancing government communication, April Bravo, assistant regional head of the Philippine Information Agency-Regional Office 1, shared strategic insights on utilizing digital platforms for information dissemination.
She emphasized, “As state workers, we must inform the public that the government is actively working.”
Bravo highlighted the importance of empowering citizens with timely and accessible information while echoing the PIA’s mandate, “A well-informed Filipino is an empowered Filipino.”
Along with other invited speakers, Dr. Ochoco and Bravo served on the regional validation team, evaluating Region 1’s entries for the 2024 NLA and adding their insights on sustainable literacy initiatives to the panel’s assessment.
The summit concluded with a recognition ceremony honoring outstanding literacy initiatives across various categories.
Category Champions:
- Independent Component City:
City Government of Dagupan – “Unaen so Edukasyon”
- Component City:
City Government of Alaminos – “AlamiKNOWSBest”
- 1st to 3rd Class Municipality:
Local Government Unit of Bacnotan, La Union – “Bacnotan Learning Journey 3.0”
- 4th to 6th Class Municipality:
Local Government Unit of Natividad, Pangasinan – “Lipad Natividad Literacy Program”
- Non-Government Organization:
The New Bauang La Union Group – (Project Allen)
These champions were awarded plaques of recognition during the regional awarding ceremony.
Except for the NGO category, the recognized LGUs advanced to the national level, representing the Ilocos Region at the 2024 National Literacy Awards to be held in December in Cagayan de Oro City.
Mayor Divine Fontanilla expressed pride in the Bacnotan Learning Journey’s impact.
“The Bacnotan Learning Journey 3.0 is indeed a journey. It never stops. The local government intends to sustain its programs and implement new strategies to meet our community’s changing needs. Literacy is our path to making our vision a reality,” she said.
The summit underscored how literacy programs foster community development and exemplified the positive impact of partnerships between LGUs and NGOs in raising literacy standards across the region.
Through shared best practices and resources, the summit strengthened LGUs and NGOs in their mission to enhance literacy rates and uplift communities across Ilocos.
These initiatives demonstrate DepEd’s commitment to empowering Filipinos and supporting sustainable growth through accessible education. (AMB/AIHR, PIA Region 1)
