For helping learners in the Cordillera, 31 government and non-government agencies and individuals were recognized by the Department of Education on Dec. 6.
DepEd-CAR Director Estela Cariño, during the 2023 Stakeholders’ Convergence at the regional office, thanked the institutions and individuals for their partnership in the various programs of the department to assist the needs of learners.
Cariño said the partnership with the stakeholders is more than just the financial but also in other areas such as providing psychosocial support for learners.
“The stakeholders are very important because our teachers are not enough. We also need the community to take care of our learners. We even have stakeholders who are not even considered rich,” Cariño said.
She said most individuals in the Cordillera value education, which is reflected in the actions of their partner stakeholders.
As one of the stakeholders recognized, Kapangan, Benguet Mayor Manny Fermin said they not only invest in infrastructure but also in education.
“I understand that it’s really hard to plan without a fund, but as I always say in our municipality, we plan and then the funds will come,” Fermin said during his response to the recognition.
Philex Mining Corporation (PMC) representative Christopher Cheno said their partnership with DepEd is part of the firm’s corporate social responsibility to give back to the community.
The partners recognized were the Army’s 51st Engineer Brigade, 53rd Brigade, and 503rd Infantry Brigade, 888 Home Furnishing, Ayala Foundation, Benguet State University, Buguias National High School Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Bureau of Jail Management Penology-Cordillera, BMW Owners Society of Saferiders, Incorporated, China Bank Savings, City Savings Bank, Cordillera Community Microfinance, Inc., Cordillera Golfers Foundation Incorporated, Department of Agriculture-Cordillera.
Also honored were Department of Education Bicol Association of Partnerships Coordinators; Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera, EastWest Rural Bank, Inc.; Global Peace Foundation of the Philippines; Government Service Insurance System; Kapangan Municipal Government Unit; Manila Teacher’s Mutual Aid System; Inc., National Bookstore-Mandaluyong City; National Grid Corporation of the Philippines; PMC; PhilHealth-Cordillera; Philippine National Police;The United Laboratories, Inc.; Isabela Rep. Joseph Salvador Tan; Mayor Fermin; Benguet Gov. Melchor Diclas; and Wilbert and Carriane Joy Sugalan. For the whole of DepEd-Cordillera, there are a total of 2,521 partners among the 991 schools with the total amount of P64,023,013.60 of donations as of November 2023. – Ofelia C. Empian
