The Department of Education-Cordillera teamed up with the city government of Baguio and Synergeia Foundation, Inc. to kickstart the 2024 Basa Baguio Book Donation Drive for learners ages 4 to 15.
Announced on Feb. 6, the initiative’s aim is to collect and gather book donations until May 2024.
Schools Division Office (SDO) of Baguio City Senior Education Specialist for Social Mobilization and Networking Section Juliet Donato Piok, encouraged the public to donate books, particularly storybooks, wholesome novels, chapter books, illustration books, pre-teen and/or teen pocketbooks, pop-up books, and colorful leisure-reading materials. Donations can be dropped at the main entrance of Baguio City Hall, DepEd Division Office located at 82 Military Cutoff Rd, and at all barangay halls in Baguio.
The 2024 Basa Baguio Book Donation Drive is a response to the findings of the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment that the Philippines is lagging behind by five to six years in reading and learning competencies.
The assessment placed the Philippines in the bottom 10 out of 81 countries in reading comprehension, mathematics, and science for the second time.
The initiative is aimed at improving the reading skills, particularly in the areas of Mathematics, Science, and English, aligning with the overarching goal of enabling students to “read and comprehend” effectively.
Individuals can donate books or serve as volunteers.
Those interested in donating or volunteering are encouraged to coordinate with her and actively engage in their advocacy of “pakikibahagi” or shared participation.
DepEd is also carrying out a number of additional initiatives aside from the Basa Baguio Book Donation Drive with the goal of raising and boosting academic performance of the learners.
These efforts include the Adopt-a-School Program, Brigada Pagbasa, and the National Literacy Camp. – Krizia Mae Pagusan
