Thai princess continues aid in Leyte’s remote school

DAGAMI, Leyte -- A school in remote village in this town continues to receive support from Thailand’s Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and the Royal Thai Embassy, five years after it was destroyed by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Representatives from the office of the Royal Highness visited the Banayon Elementary School for the third time on Tuesday, to monitor the development of their projects.

Aside from the turnover of a new school building, which was personally inaugurated by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on January 20, 2016, she also donated PHP200,000 as "seed money" for the school’s various projects such as tilapia-raising, piggery, mushroom production, health and nutrition program, and vegetable garden.

Eden Dadap, project development officer of the Department of Education Eastern Visayas regional office, said the resources provided by the Thai Princess is "a blessing” to the school.

Ma. Ivy Avelino, the head teacher of Banayon Elementary School, assured the Thai princess of the "self-sufficiency" of the projects with the support of the parents, local government unit, and the community officials.

Avelino said their vegetable garden and tilapia production have helped in sustaining the health and nutrition program for their 142 enrolled students.

She said that the malnutrition problem in their school is also being addressed by the projects.

Ronelo Al Firmo, the schools division superintendent, thanked the Royal Princess for her support, saying the project is a big help for the school to augment its school-based programs.

Albert Enriquez, Cebu area manager of Thai agribusiness company CP Foods, said they provided technical assistance to the school to ensure the productivity of their fishpond.

Meanwhile, the Thai royal officials called on school officials to sustain their projects for the future of the students and their village.

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is the second daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth monarch of Thailand from the Chakri dynasty, which reigned in Thailand from 1946 until the elder monarch's death 2016.

Leyte schools continue to receive computers

THE Department of Education (DepEd) in Leyte division continued the delivery of computers units to its schools as part of the DepEd computerization program (DCP).

Ronelo Boholano, the division’s in-charge of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) unit, said that about 90 percent of the schools in Leyte have already received at least one DCP package since 2010.

“Starting from batch 24 up to batch 44 now, there are more than 600 school-recipients per year which have been given at least one ICT equipment,” said Boholano.

Boholano said that this year, they have also delivered and installed DCP pacakges to remote schools and senior high schools under batch 36 to 44.

Aside from the distribution of computers, Boholano said their unit is focused on developing and giving technical assistance, educational leadership in promoting ICT in education; professional development of teachers in terms of ICT in education; crafting of policies and roadmaps that would facilitate integrating ICT in teaching and learning, and provision of learning resources and curriculum support.

Meanwhile, Boholano lauded those schools that went an extra mile in soliciting support for their own computerization program, noting that the DCP batch 24 is not enough for their schools.

He cited the efforts of Pining Paglingap Elementary School, a remote school in Tabango, Leyte, which have found a way to connect with their stakeholders and donors for additional used computers to their school

“It's so heart-warming to see this kind of picture of schools using ICT as a tool for their students to get concepts of subjects across subject areas while at the same time teaching ICT as a subject,” Boholano said on the initiative of Carlo Ngoho, the school head of Pining Paglingap Elementary School.

Ngoho, who was one of the first 100 teachers who attended the pilot run of ICT literacy skills development last November 2015 in Tacloban City, said their school had received batch 24 of DCP composed of one system unit and seven monitors.

With the help of its former principal Maristela Delalamon, their school was able to link with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for the donation of computers.

“We wrote a letter to BSP requesting them to give us numbers of used computers. They responded and gave us 10 desktop computers on August 3 this year,” Ngoho told Sunstar Philippines.

“I am very happy that we will learn computer in our school,” said 11-year-old Grade 6 student Ronalyn Lapore.

Ivy Shane Rojas, a Grade 5 student, said "We are proud that even we are studying in the far-flung school, we learn ICT skills just like what the pupils learn in city and town school.”

Ngoho also thanked the leadership of Leyte Schools Division Superintendent Ronelo Al Firmo “for the continuous support and monitoring of the program.”

DepEd Leyte continues programs to persons deprived of liberty

PALO, Leyte--The Department of Education (DepEd) in Leyte Division has continued its Senior High School (SHS) and Alternative Learning System (ALS) programs to selected Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) turned students at the Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte amid the ambush incident which resulted to the death of three custodial officers and the injury of outgoing Corrections Chief Superintendent Geraldo Aro on August 6.

“The incident is an isolated one. We should not be afraid. If we stop, who else then will help these PDLs dream dreams and help make their dreams come true,” said Edgar Tenasas, Leyte assistant schools division superintendent on Thursday, August 16.

“We started the journey with them. We started to touch their lives. We should be one with LRP officials in this endeavor,” he added.

The education official maintained that their programs would serve as “legacy that will remain in the hearts of these people whom we serve.”

“We should remain to make this legacy be a token for the future,” Tenasas said.

Jeffrey Pontillas, the Senior High School coordinator of Hampipila National High School which served as the main campus of LRP-assigned teachers in Abuyog, expressed his appreciation to Tenasas for visiting the correctional facility three days after the incident to assure the teachers and the PDLS that their education will not be hampered by the incident.

“Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom that enlightened the minds of our teachers,” Pontillas said.

According to Pontillas, there was a sense of fear among the teachers and PDL students in the correctional facility when the incident happened.

“Initially, the teachers were afraid to travel to LRP for their safety. The PDL students were also worried that the teachers will not show up in their classes. Despite the risk, we decided to continue teaching because this is for the betterment of our students,” he said.

“We continue doing our job inside the Leyte Regional Prison because these people need us. This is the only way they can taste a little bit of freedom through education,” added Jake Laurence Laurente, an ALS teacher for five years at LRP.

Laurente said that for this school year, they already have 90 ALS learners.

They are composed of 25 students in the elementary level, 38 for secondary level, and 27 for basic literacy program.

He, however, said that more learners will be added in the coming days from the Reception and Diagnostic Center, an area where newly-arrived PDLs are placed for two months for acclimatization purposes before they will be put in their new environment inside the correctional facility.

Other ALS teachers at LRP are Jay Christopher Humawid, Noel Quinante, and Rudy Robin Montajes.

Laurence also reported that in 2016, at least 137 PDLS successfully passed the ALS’ Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E), while in 2017, they had 68 passers.

By passing the A & E paper and pencil examination, the students who have not attended or finished elementary or high school in the formal school system will be qualified to enroll in secondary and post-secondary schools.

Leyte Division through Schools Division Superintendent Ronelo AL Firmo launched the SHS program to the 63 PDLs who passed in this year’s A & E Test. (PR)

Photo: Leyte Division Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Edgar Tenasas (center) visits the 63 persons deprived of liberty turned Senior High School students at the Leyte Regional Prison (LRP) in Abuyog, Leyte on August 9 to assure them the continuity of the education programs amid the ambush of LRP corrections personnel recently.

Leyte bags all regional Gawad Kalasag titles under public school category

PALO,Leyte-The Leyte Division bagged all the regional level awards under the public school category in this year’s 20th Gawad Kalasag awarding ceremony at Summit Hotel in Tacloban City on Tuesday, July 31.

The school awardees for elementary level are Abuyog South Central School in Abuyog, first place; Cogon Elementary School in Palo, second place; and Tinambacan Elementary School in Jaro, third place.

For secondary, the winners are Bienvenido Guillera Celebre National High School in Jaro, first place; Barugo National High School in Barugo, second place; and Matlang National High School in Isabel, third place.

The winning schools received a plaque and cash prize of P50, 000, P30,000, and P15,000, respectively.

The Leyte Division through its ever-dynamic schools division superintendent Ronelo Al K. Firmo proudly congratulated the school awardees and wished them luck for the national level competition.

“It’s an honor for the Leyte Division to have six schools acknowledged by the Office of Civil Defense Regional Office VIII. Unforeseen events occur at the least expected time and the preparedness of the school matters to lessen the impact of such situation,” said Edgar Y. Tenasas, the assistant schools division superintendent.

“We look forward that this becomes an inspiration to other schools in Leyte that may also aspire to work for the same award in the future,” Tenasas added.

Tenasas also lauded Karen H. Barril, the division’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) coordinator for her hard work and technical assistance to the schools.

“It proved the collective effort of the division personnel in the provision of technical assistance to the schools in consonance with the Department of Education strategic direction to giving premium to disaster readiness,” added Marilyn B. Siao, the assistant schools division superintendent.

The awarding ceremony served as the culminating activity in the observance of National Disaster Resilience Month which was led by the Office of Civil Defense and other government partner agencies.

The event was attended by OCD Deputy Administrator Nicanor E. Faeldon, OCD Regional Director Henry Anthony M. Torres, and other government officials.

The disaster resilience activities are conducted under theme “Katatagan sa Kalamidad ay Makakamtan kapag Sapat ang Kaalamn sa Kahandaan.”

Since its inception in 1998, the Gawad Kalasag served as the country’s premier annual awards for outstanding contribution in the fields of disaster risk reduction and management and humanitarian assistance.

It recognizes best practices of DRRM among individuals, groups or institutions which have shown “extraordinary courage, heroism, and sacrifice in times of emergencies, be it natural or human-induced.”

Upland Leyte school gives special care

AT 3 a.m., 12-year-old Rachel Dellera is already awake, as she prepares for school.

The Grade 6 pupil has to trek for more than an hour to reach the Pining Paglingap Elementary School, a hinterland school in Barangay Butason II, about 12 kilometers away from the poblacion of Tabango in Leyte.

Dellera, the fifth among nine siblings, said she does not want to be late or absent from her class because she wants to fulfill her ambition.

“My father is a farmer while my mother is a plain housewife. I want to be a teacher so I can help them someday,” Dellera said.

Dellera, along with her 166 schoolmates, is thankful that there is an available school next to their mountainous village.

Maristela Delalamon, the outgoing school principal, said that Pining Paglingap Elementary School was established in the 1980s through the efforts of Silvina Laya, the mother of former minister of education Jaime Laya.

The school was previously named Pining Community School. It was changed to Pining Paglingap Elementary School to show special care to their students from the mountainous barangays in Tabango.

According to Delalamon, Mrs. Laya wanted a dormitory to be established in the remote school so that the students from far-flung areas will have a place to stay.

At least 11 schools around the Philippines piloted the project, she said.

However, the dormitory project in Tabango did not last long because most of the parents wanted their children to go home to help with household chores.

The makeshift dormitory at Pining Paglingap Elementary School only lasted for three years due to a strong typhoon.

Amid this, the spirit of caring continues in the school, said the newly appointed school head Carlo Ngoho.

He said they have plenty of interventions to solve the dropout problem in the school, like their daily feeding, adopt-a-student program, tutorial, regular home visitation, and even transportation assistance to their students.

For years, the school has no student dropouts due to the type of attention and care they give to their learners.

Being its former student, Ngoho said that he owed a lot from Pining Paglingap Elementary School.

"Most of our eight teachers here were also its alumni," Ngoho said.

“We make it sure that students will learn by the time they entered their classroom, knowing that they walked for over one hour to arrive here,” the 35-year-old school head added.

“We give them hot and nutritious lunch every day which we made from the harvest in our school garden,” added Ngoho.

The school was awarded outstanding "Gulayan" implementer in 2016 due to its feeding program.

Meanwhile, Ngoho thanked Leyte Schools Division Superintendent Ronelo Al Firmo for his support.

“Just this month, Firmo visited us for two times already. He has this fatherly way of managing schools. He’s very caring to us, too,” Ngoho said.

Leyte opens more schools to end dropouts

PALO, Leyte-Education officials in Leyte have worked for the opening of additional secondary schools to provide more access to education and solve the school dropout issue in the province.

Ronelo Al Firmo, the Leyte schools division superintendent, said that the list of newly-opened schools in Leyte is increasing since he assumed office in 2013.

In Bilwang, Isabel, parents, students and barangay officials expressed their excitement over the opening of their new school to accommodate the increasing enrolment at the nearby Matlang National High School.

“We’re really thankful to Dr. Firmo for the initiative,” said Matlang National High School Principal Vivian Salahid.

The other schools to be opened include the Gimarco National High School (Tabango), Campokpok National High School (Tabango), Bachao Natonal High School (Leyte), Villahermosa National High School (Calubian), Hilusig National High School (Mahaplag), Danao Natonal High School (MacArthur), San Vicente National High School (Tolosa), Talisay National High School (Hilongos), Libertad National High School (Palo), San Jose National High School (Palo), and Cansamada National High School (Dagami).

Edgar Tenasas, assistant schools division superintendent, lauded Firmo's effort to improve access and promote opportunities by opening schools, saying it “is an action responding to our Secretary's vision for a liberating education.”

“As to the number of schools he opened during his incumbency is something worth to be proud of. My prayers that God gives him more wisdom and strength as he squarely faces all challenges he met along his journey as schools division superintendent,” Tenasas said in a statement.

The secondary schools that are established under Dr. Firmo’s administration include: Euperfia Puda National High School (Matalom), Dawahon National High School (Bato), Hampangan National High School (Hilongos), Canmarating National High School (Abuyog), Buraburon National High School (Burauen), Alegria National High School (Julita), Rizal National High School (Dulag), Manlilisid National High School (Javier), Buracan National High School (La Paz), Trinidad B. Caidic National High School (Alangalang), Borseth National High School (Alangalang), Mariano Salazar National High School (Alangalang), Bienvenido Celebre National High School (Jaro), Telesforo Calda National High School (Leyte), San Jose National High School (San Isidro), Basud National High School (San Isidro), Rafaelito Cabanas Martinez National High School (Calubian), Hinabuyan National High School (Villaba), Sambulawan National High School (Villaba), Sulpa National High School (Villaba), Sta. Filomena National High School (Isabel), Macalpiay National High School (Pastrana), Capudlosan National High School (Hindang), and Hiagsam National High School (Jaro).

Known as the biggest among the 13 schools division in Eastern Visayas region, the Leyte Division covers 40 towns with more than 15, 000 teachers assigned in

1, 107 elementary schools, 149 secondary schools, and 126 senior high schools.

Teacher applicants laud Leyte hiring process

PALO, Leyte-Mary Cherry Romero, a first-time teacher applicant, expressed her appreciation over the hiring process of the Department of Education in Leyte Division during the second wave recruitment at the division gymnasium in Palo, Leyte on Thursday, July 12, 2018.

“It was very orderly. Despite there were plenty of applicants, they were able to manage it smoothly,” said Romero who hails from the town of Bato, about 130 kilometers away from Palo.

Her co-applicant Aimee Barquin, 24, also said the same, as she found out the recruitment method being practiced by the division.

Leyte Schools Division Superintendent Ronelo Al Firmo has institutionalized the “open ranking system” for the evaluative assessment of documents to maintain transparency and democratic process in the hiring.

During the evaluation of documents and interview, all applicants will be given a chance to see their scores in the projector screen aside from confirming the points they garnered.

“I was hired based on my qualification and never on an endorsement letter from a politician or a known personality,” added 23-year-old Feir-Ann Agapay from Carigara, Leyte.

According to Agapay, she admired the way the division screened their documents.

“They’re meticulous on what we submitted, making it sure that every document is authentic,” she added.

An applicant has to earn 70 points to be included in the Registry of Qualified Applicants (RQA).

It covers the English proficiency test, behavioral events interview, demonstration teaching, validation of specialized skills, educational attainment, experience, and eligibility, among others.

Marilyn Siao, Leyte Schools Division assistant superintendent, earlier said that there are over 5,000 applicants for both elementary and secondary teaching positions this year.

In an open ranking system, the applicants were given the opportunity to be clarified on their scores, Siao said.

The RQA result is also posted in the division’s official social media accounts so every applicant will have the chance to see the ranking.

In the elementary level, 608 new items were already filled. While of the 683 new items for the secondary, 575 were already deployed.

The remaining 108 items for junior high school Teacher I positions in English, Filipino, Araling Panlipunan, MAPEH, and TLE (Drafting, ICT, EIM) will be filled after the scheduled second wave recruitment process.

Covering 40 towns in Leyte province, the Leyte Division has over 15,000 teachers assigned in 1, 107 elementary schools, 149 secondary schools, and 126 senior high schools.

As of this year’s Oplan Balik Eskwela, Leyte Division has 136, 022 students enrolled in both secondary and senior high schools and 236, 794 in elementary.

Leyte prisoners get senior high education

ABUYOG, Leyte-Diomedes, a prisoner at the Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte, couldn’t find a better way to express his happiness except through singing after hearing the good news that their maximum security compound will turn into a “school ground” come June 4, 2018.

Already on his mid-fifties, Diomedes will join the first batch of 63 inmates-turned-students who will attend in the first semester of the two-year senior high school program of the Department of Education (DepEd) through the initiative of Leyte Division officials and other stakeholders.

“I am thanking everyone for giving us the opportunity to enter senior high,” Diomedes said in vernacular before belting the popular Christian song “Lead me Lord”, which, according to him, will serve as their guide when the new school year opens next month.

“I know God has a purpose why we’re here. I hope and I pray that you will continue your studies for the good future of your families. Your children are waiting outside, and like us, we hope you can give a good life to them when time comes that you will be set free from here,” Edgar Tenasas, assistant schools division superintendent in Leyte, told inmates during the formal orientation on Senior High School Leyte Regional Prison class program on Friday, May 25.

Tenasas, who is the brain behind the program, acknowledged the all-around support of Leyte Schools Division Superintendent Ronelo Al Firmo, Leyte 3rd Congressional District Representative Vicente Veloso and other stakeholders.

“The good news is Cong. Veloso has allocated P26.7 million for the construction of six classrooms two-story building, a big gymnasium, a library and computer laboratory inside the prison grounds,” said Tenasas.

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) will also come sometimes this June for a visit and find out what support can they extend to LRP with the limited budget they have this time, he added.

The senior high class inside the penal colony will serve as a “special class” of the nearby Hampipila National High School in Abuyog since the Leyte Division cannot create a new secondary school immediately due to documentary preparations.

Tenasas, who was accompanied by Education Program Supervisor for Araling Panlipunan-Juan Mitra, said their ultimate plan for this program is they want the prisoners to be equipped with life skills which they can use when they will be reintegrated to the society particularly in today’s technologically-driven society.

“My dream is that you will be virtual workers, working in computers companies from being an encoder to transcriptionist and other related jobs,” said Tenasas, calling the 63 inmates as the “chosen few”.

He added that working in computers will also help them adjust to the world outside as there are still people who find it difficult to accept former prisoners in the workplaces.

“We’re giving opportunities to you, and we’re looking forward that you’re not going to waste it, too. You will like it here because a student life is also a good one,” said Tenasas while hinting that in the future Higher Education Institution may come in and offer a program for a college degree.

“I don’t know how we can pay back. Let’s show that we deserve this, thus we’ll show to them that we are always obedient to the rules and regulations... that we are united for the betterment of everybody,” Abuyog Penal Superintendent Geraldo Aro urged the inmates.

Aro added that he remained thankful to Leyte education officials that the program has materialized so quickly from its inception during the Alternative Learning System (ALS) graduation which Tenasas attended last April 30.

“I would like to believe that it is a blessing. They were heaven sent. We knew that when it comes to government, the budget always fell short. Nevertheless, there are always people who are willing to help,” said Aro.

Like Firmo and Tenasas, Aro said that they are after the good future of the inmates when they will be eventually released and integrated to the free society.

Aro assured the inmates that they would earn additional 15 days good conduct time allowance per month if they would maintain their good standing in their classes.

Orlando Cabantoc, school head of Hampipila National High School, also called on the inmates to take pride of being recipients of the new program, saying they will be heading for a better future.

“Starting today, you are part of our school. This is because your uniform will also carry the same logo of our school,” he said while reminding them to act just like what is normally expected from a student inside a classroom: show respect, perform assigned tasks, no absences, no cheating, and no bullying.

“Let’s turn our classroom into a class home,” he added.

According to Cabantoc, the class will be divided into two sections, each comprising 31 students and 32 students. One among the methods employed in the delivery of instruction will be a “seminar-type” sessions from various resource speakers.

While saying that he was also surprised of the program, Cabantoc believed that these are all parts of “God’s plan” for them to have another “chance, choice, change” just like when they were still outside the prison walls.

The inmates will attend their classes in a temporary learning spaces from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, and with a recess time.

In between their studies, they will also hold regular monthly culmination activities with the help of the supervisors and school heads in the Abuyog South District teachers as part of their community extension service.

Jeffrey Pontillas, the Senior High School coordinator of Hampipila National High School, also expressed his excitement of being one of the teachers inside the prison facility.

"This program is a big help to them. When they will be freed, they would bring them life skills,” added Correction Officer II Edgar Loyola.

Erase the stigma

Tenasas recalled that his “point of interest” why he is pushing for the realization of the program is the case of one teacher who got imprisoned and when he was released he applied for a teaching job.

He was hired for three days and got fired on the fourth day due to a petition filed by parents on the grounds that he was an ex-convict.

According to Tenasas, the society is not yet ready to give ex-convict equal opportunity with the rest of the members of the labor force.

So why not prepare our persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) for a job that will never require face to face encounter, a worker in the virtual community over the internet, he asked.

“We should end this concept of ‘ex-convict’. Why can’t we give them a second chance without being stigmatized, discriminated?” Tenasas added.

Meanwhile, Gwen, 32, a third-year criminology student from Cebu who was convicted for drug charges, said he is thankful to Leyte education officials for coming up with their senior high school program.

Along with other inmates who went to school, Gwen also acted as an assistant teacher inside the facility for ALS, another educational program of Leyte Division inside the correctional facility.

“In 2013, we started the Basic Literacy Program. We started the Accreditation and Equivalency Program in 2015. We now have roughly 200 to 250 students under ALS, and our enrollment still continues,” said Jake Laurente, ALS teacher inside the prison camp.

He also lauded the new senior high program at the Leyte Regional Prison “in order for these inmates to continue what they have started in ALS.”

Established in 1973, the 861.66 -hectared Leyte Regional Prison in Mahagna village in Abuyog, located some 80 kilometers from the region's capital Tacloban City is home to more than 1, 800 convicts.

DepEd reminds of ‘no collection policy’ during opening of classes

THE Department of Education (DepEd) here has reminded school heads and teachers to strictly implement the agency’s “no collection policy" when new school year opens on Monday, June 4, 2018

Jasmin Calzita, information officer of DepEd-Eastern Visayas, said that aside from enforcing the DepEd Order 41 series of 2012 which covers the prohibition of collecting fees during enrolment and the start of classes, school officials are also urged to “make the opening of classes festive especially for our kindergarten.”

“Also, let’s ensure the safety of our school children,” Calzita said on Saturday, June 2.

The official said they are “expecting more or less same number of enrolment” last year which was 1,244,110 students both in public and private.

“We cannot give the data as our schools are still on the process of encoding the names of our students in the Enhanced Basic Education Information System (EBEIS),” she said.

EBEIS is the agency’s web-based management information system that collects and stores education statistics, profile, learning centers and providers, and performance indicators, among other data.

“We have not reached the previous data yet. We are expecting more enrollees during the opening of classes,” Calzita added.

Calzita said that region’s Oplan Balik Eskwela-Public Assistance Command Center (OBE-PACC) are already set in the region, division and schools to entertain issues and concerns relative to the opening of classes.

Meanwhile, Edgar Tenasas, assistant schools division superintendent in Leyte, said that the province is already set for the new school year starting next week.

“Our school heads and teachers are doing their part to prepare their school for the opening. In the municipality where I am assigned for the Brigada Eskwela monitoring, I witnessed the concerted efforts of the school personnel and the community in all of the elementary and secondary schools in Babatngon, Leyte,” said Tenasas while thanking Babatngon Mayor Marife Rondina and District Supervisor Melfe Sanchez for their support during the monitoring activities.

Eastern Visayas, with its 13 school divisions, has 4, 161 public schools with 47, 334 teachers and 7, 485 non- teaching personnel. The region has a total of 301 private schools.

During its partnership roadshow last month, the region generated at least 38 memorandum of agreements and a total of P200,439,066 from various donors to fund its educational gaps like malnutrition, lack of non-teaching staff and Alternative Learning System faculty, lack of high school campuses in far-flung barangays, congested classrooms, high dropout rate, decreasing enrollment among elementary students, lack of school budget, low performance in the National Achievement Test, and lack of data-driven system to track performances of schools, among other school problems.

Leyte launches 1st instructional manuals for TLE

PALO, Leyte-The lack of books and reference materials for the Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) specialized subjects will become a thing of the past, as the Department of Education (DepEd)-Leyte Division launched its first instructional manuals for TLE teachers on June 20, 2018.

"In the previous years, the implementation of TLE program was not given so much focus, but with keen observation, passion, and determination to change its face, our Education Program Supervisor in-charge of TLE, Dr. Gil Esplanada Jr., with the curriculum writers started the journey and momentarily have its stop station today," said Ronelo Al K. Firmo, the Leyte schools division superintendent.

"This indeed is a wonderful station. A big leap in the curriculum implementation and management," added Firmo, as he congratulated Esplanada and his 24 TLE curriculum writer-teachers during the unveiling of the instructional manuals together with Dr. Alejandrito L. Yman, chief of the Curriculum and Learning Management Division of DepEd-Eastern Visayas, and other education program supervisors and visitors.

Marilyn B. Siao, assistant schools division superintendent, called the new TLE manuals as an "amazing breakthrough" of the division's banner project Seedling or Strategic Empowerment of Educators in the Delivery of Learning Instruction and Needs-Based Governance.

She said the Leyte Division's Curriculum Implementation Division (CID) through its chief, Felicidad T. Espinosa, "is boarding the realm of creativity and innovation, pushing beyond the limits, thinking up new things and doing new things."

"I am happy to unveil one of the great new things that CID is working on along the mandate, ensuring full implementation of the articulated K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum," she added.

According to Siao, the launching of TLE instructional manuals is also anchored on the competency guide, teaching guide and the learning materials in TLE, complemented with the materials coming from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), its partner agency.

She said the most significant thing about the new manuals is that it is being "fortified with the rich experiences of our 24 curriculum writers who are experts of the TLE strands and specializations."

On his part, Yman lauded the Leyte Division, saying the launching of the TLE manuals "is now in congruence with the international standards for operations applied by DepEd Regional Office for certification."

One of the targets in that standard is to contextualize learning materials, Yman said.

"While I was part of the people unveiling (the manuals), I was looking at the bright exercise in teaching-learning activities in the classroom. For all you know, curriculum guides remain to be a document without the learning materials. Our clients at the DepEd are our learners. They are customers," said Yman, as he likened the curriculum the Deped is offering to commercial products on sale.

"Our learners are choosing what kind of products are they going to buy to shape up their personalities in the future," he said.

Yman also challenged the Leyte division to continue the development of its learning materials to further suit the needs of the learners.

Meanwhile, Esplanada thanked the support of his fellow division officials and the curriculum writers for their efforts and sacrifices, saying their next step will be on the "utilization of the manuals," which happened to be his "application project" in the recently-conducted training on "Instructional Leadership Program for Division and District Supervisors, Module I and II."

"These 24 manuals will be submitted to the Learning Resources Management and Development System office for quality assurance," said Esplanada, adding that the manuals underwent a series of editing procedures by TLE experts.

"Before they can use the manual, they will be oriented first on its features and the critical points for proper usage," Esplanada said.

He, however, said that usage of the manuals is not compulsory or mandatory.

"This manual will serve as a guide," he said.

Also, Espinosa expressed her elation over the project launching, saying that "at least, we already have the manuals where we have samples of a contextualized learning resource."

During the event, the TLE coordinators also introduced their newly-designed logo and slogan.

The TLE curriculum writers are Dyna A. Abala (Landscape Installation and Maintenance NC II), Elmer O. Florendo (Animal Production NC II), Alex B. Urmeneta (Aquaculture NC II), Marilyn E. Macasil (Crop Production NC II), Ma. Mivelyn A. Velarde (Food Processing NC II), Dennis A. Badato (Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II), Oliver C. Cayosa (Carpentry NC II), Rosemarie M. Cabero (Plumbing NC II), Ruperto N. Agnes Jr. (Domestic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Services NC II), Jonathan T. Quintano (Electronic Products Assembly and Servicing NC II), Noel P. Del Pilar (Automotive Servicing NC II), Florante Villanueva (Electrical Installation Maintenance and Servicing NC II), Rosendo M. Laurente (Masonry NC II), Jessie Z. Sinday (Dressmaking NC II), Melchor O. Marin (Handicraft NC II), Annabelle R. Abejar (Beauty Care NC II), Fritzie Pastor (Caregiving NC II), Joselita L. Retaga (Front Office Services NC II), Diosalyn A. Rocabo (Household Services NC II), Rosario N. Comora (Cookery NC II ), Katherine P. Arceno (Contact Center Services NC II), Nino Charles G. Advincula (Illustration NC II), Romeo A. Dela Pena (Technical Drafting NC II), and Von E. Alvarez (Computer System Servicing NC II).

Leyte PDLs gain school gear, computers

ABUYOG, Leyte—Sixty-three persons deprived of liberty turned students at the Leyte Regional Prison here received a new pair of shoes, socks, school bags, some laptops, and computers from the employees of Standard Chartered Bank on Saturday, June 23, 2018.

Leyte division education officials headed by superintendent Ronelo Al Firmo and his assistant schools’ division superintendent Edgar Tenasas, along with Corrections Senior Superintendent Geraldo I. Aro, thanked the bank employees for their “package of surprises” to the PDLs in support to their senior high school studies.

Tenasas, in his speech, said that as they continue to search for partners in the operation of their senior high school program inside the correctional facility, they are lucky to have the assistance from the Standard Chartered Bank employees led by Mai Sangalang, the Philippines Head of Corporate Affairs/Brand and Marketing, who personally came to the prison facility.

Aro also expressed appreciation to the efforts of the bank, adding that its help is very timely for the rehabilitation of their PDLs.

“We started from scratch here. We’re always thankful of your help,” Aro told the bank employees.

For her part, Sangalang said that they didn’t think twice about helping the PDLs.

“If there is one message that we would like to give you, it is the message of hope. Even though you’re here, don’t lose hope,” said Sangalang, who turned emotional during her speech.

Meanwhile, Firmo said that the opening of senior high school at the Abuyog penal colony is part of his mandate of providing access to education for the high school students in Leyte, noting the low participation rate and high drop-out rate which he found out when he assumed office in 2013.

“We started to put up high schools around Leyte. We’ve been working silently, and up to this time, we’ve learned that we already established over 30 high schools,” he added.

Tenasas earlier disclosed that they already secured the support from Leyte 3rd Congressional District Representative Vicente Veloso who has allocated P26.7 million for the construction of six classrooms two-story building, a big gymnasium, a library, and computer laboratory inside the prison facility.

He added that the selected PDLs are part of the “special class” of the nearby Hampipila National High School in the municipality.

Its school principal Orlando Cabantoc and other district education supervisors will also support in the delivery of the senior high curriculum to the PDLs, Tenasas said.

Tenasas hoped that the PDLs will become “virtual workers” like encoders or transcriptionists when they will leave the correctional facility, noting that most of the Filipinos remain indifferent to former PDLs in their workplaces.