News

LCC Holds Midyear Performance Review to Advance Literacy Efforts

In the pursuit of organizational success, careful planning and regular assessment play a pivotal role in driving progress and achieving goals. Recognizing this fundamental principle, the Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) recently organized a Midyear Performance Review, which took place from June 13-16, 2023, at the National Educators Academy of the Philippines in General Santos City. The event aimed to evaluate the Council’s performance during the first half of the year, realign the implementation plan for 2023, and foster discussions on accomplishments and future directions. Representatives from various member agencies actively participated in the workshop, with activities facilitated by the LCC Secretariat and esteemed resource persons.

During the Midyear Performance Review, the LCC focused on evaluating its progress and fine-tuning strategies to ensure the eradication of illiteracy at the grassroots level. The Council aimed to leverage the collective efforts and expertise of its member agencies to develop effective programs and initiatives that address the literacy challenges faced by communities across the nation.

Throughout the workshop, the Council conducted comprehensive assessments of its performance, highlighting achievements, identifying areas for improvement, and addressing potential obstacles. By recalibrating the implementation plan for 2023, the LCC strives to optimize its resources and further enhance its impact on literacy promotion.

The workshop provided an invaluable platform for in-depth discussions among Council representatives, enabling them to share experiences, exchange knowledge, and explore innovative approaches to address illiteracy effectively. With the guidance of the LCC Secretariat and resource persons, participants engaged in constructive dialogue to forge a collective path forward.

The Literacy Coordinating Council remains committed to its mission of eradicating illiteracy. To learn more about the Council’s ongoing initiatives, accomplishments, and future plans, interested individuals are encouraged to visit the LCC website at [https://lcc.deped.gov.ph]. Additionally, the Council invites literacy advocates, supporters, and partners to engage with them on their Facebook page [@LiteracyCoordinatingCouncil]. For further inquiries, the LCC Secretariat can be reached via email at lcc@deped.gov.ph, where they are ready to provide information and support related to literacy promotion efforts.

By fostering collaboration, strategic planning, and continuous assessment, the LCC aims to create a future where every Filipino has access to quality education and the ability to thrive through the power of literacy. Together, let us join hands in building a more literate and empowered nation.

Building a Stronger Alliance: Literacy Coordinating Council and Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. Fortifies Long-standing Partnership

From left to right: Mr. Michael Joseph A. Torne, Program Administration Section Head of the Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI), Mr. Enrico R. Mendoza, Head of the LCC Secretariat, Ms. Marikka P. Mampusti, Lead Officer of the Advocacy, Social Mobilization, and Partnerships of the LCC, and Mr. Jonathan D. Batangan, Executive Director of the CLFI

         Driven by its mission to extend a helping hand in strengthening the advocacy of literacy, the Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Incorporation which has been one of the reliable and longest-standing partners of the Literacy Coordinating Council—being the official benefactor of cash prizes for the Special Award of Excellence in Literacy category of the National Literacy Awards, met with the LCC Secretariat last March 22, 2023 (Wednesday) to fortify its partnership and discuss existing and future areas of collaboration.

         “We believe in multi-stakeholder collaboration to further promote inclusive education and literacy in the country, and we focus our resources on these advocacies among others,” shared Mr. Jonathan D. Batangan, Executive Director of the CLFI, during the meeting. The said meeting was attended by Mr. Michael Joseph A. Torne, Mr. Enrico R. Mendoza, and Ms. Marikka P. Mampusti.

         The LCC, being a coordinating body, puts forth on establishing meaningful and sustainable partnerships not only with government agencies but also with private organizations that relentlessly work on empowering and uplifting the lives of Filipinos through literacy. Being its main advocacy program, the National Literacy Awards underscores the importance of literacy in nation-building. It serves as an avenue for local government units and nongovernment organizations to have their best practices in literacy documented in the hopes that these will be institutionalized and replicated.

         The CLFI commits to sustaining its advocacy on education and literacy and leads the private sector to intensify the support to LCC and continue to help the Department of Education in recognizing the award-winning initiatives of all LGUs, NGOs, and Civil Society Organizations. The LCC is thrilled to further strengthen the partnership between the two parties which will manifest in the 2024 National Literacy Awards.

         More information on the existing programs of the CLFI are found at https://www.cebuanalhuillier.com/advocacies/ and other resources on literacy, specifically on financial literacy entitled Digital Iponaryo Module are found on the Partners Portal of the LCC website through the link https://lcc.deped.gov.ph/lr-partners-portal/.

LCC Gains a New Partner in 1986 Summerhouse Publishing

Photo of attendees of the exploratory meeting with 1986 Summerhouse Publishing (from left to right), Ms. Zenny Lastimosa (Project Development Officer II) and Ms. Jannet F. Labre (Project Development Officer II) from the External Partnerships Service, Mr. Michael Jeffrey E. Lamas (Program Manager and Quality Assurance Officer), Mr. Christopher B. Luces (Chief Operating Officer), and Ms. Rellyn M. Nojadera-Luces (Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer) from the 1986 Summerhouse Publishing, Mr. Enrico R. Mendoza (Project Development Officer V) of the Literacy Coordinating Council Secretariat, Ms. Laiza D. Lagarto (Program Manager and Global Training Administrator) of the 1986 Summerhouse Publishing, Ms. Michelle F. Tolentino (Senior Education Program Specialist) of the Bureau of Learning Delivery, Ms. Liza Legaspino (Senior Education Program Specialist) of the Bureau of Curriculum Development, Mr. Noel Kristian F. Espiritu (Public-Private Partnership Manager) and Mr. Ryan M. Nojadera (Creative Director and Program Manager) from the 1986 Summerhouse Publishing.

          Borne out of their intention to contribute to improving the literacy situation in the country by designing a reading program called “Bawat Isa Makakabasa,” the 1986 Summerhouse Publishing, an organization with a deep sense of commitment not only to Content Development but far greater the meaning and development solutions which would carry value towards transformation and nation building, extended an opportunity to the Department of Education to implement the said reading program.

          “The “Bawat Isa Makakabasa” is a reading program that supports the call to increase the literacy rate of Filipino learners and emphasizes the significant role of education in nation-building through the establishment of public libraries and reading centers in all local government units,” Ms. Rellyn M. Nojadero-Luces, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the 1986 Summerhouse Publishing shared during the meeting.

          The program is responsive to the Every Child a Reader Program (ECARP), a national program that addresses the thrust of the Department of Education (DepEd) to make every child a reader at his/her grade level. It is designed to equip elementary pupils with strategic reading and writing skills to make them independent young readers and writers; and “Hamon: Bawat Bata Bumabasa (3Bs Initiative),” as well as the Department’s flagship agenda—MATATAG: “Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa.”The program is designed for learners across ages and grade levels—including Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd).

          The exploratory meeting with 1986 Summerhouse Publishing was attended to by various offices from the DepEd – Central Office, namely the Literacy Coordinating Council Secretariat, External Partnerships Service, Bureau of Learning Delivery, and Bureau of Curriculum Development to ensure that the requirements needed to facilitate the implementation of the program in full swing will be set. This objective was achieved by the 1986 Summerhouse Publishing by sharing the history, background, and goals of the publishing house, having a full demonstration of the “Bawat Isa Makakabasa” reading program, explaining the Quality Management procedures of the organization, showing a preview of the Learning Management System (LMS) platform intended for the implementation of the program, and explaining their Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program.

          The meeting ended meaningfully by identifying the ways forward to formally establish a partnership between DepEd and 1986 Summerhouse Publishing. Additionally, to ensure alignment of the program with the curriculum standards and obtain quality assurance of the resources to be used in implementing the program, technical assistance coming from the Bureau of Curriculum Development, Bureau of Learning Delivery, and Bureau of Learning Resources will be provided.

          Lastly, the Literacy Coordinating Council, through its Secretariat, commits to advocating for the program on the ground by introducing it to the local government units that have local literacy councils and are active partners of the Council in universalizing literacy in the country. The LCC, together with the DepEd, looks forward to building a partnership with organizations like 1986 Summerhouse Publishing that are eager to improve the literacy skills of Filipino learners. This goes without saying that it is the Council’s privilege to share the vision and journey to work toward the goal of universalizing literacy in the country.  

LCC Beefs Up Partnership with the World Vision on its Brigada Pagbasa Catch Up Project (CUP)

Anchored on its goal to recover lost learning so that learners can return to or enroll into education at the level that suits their age and situation, the Catch Up Project of the World Vision is designed as a community-based intervention that is responsive to learners’ needs and context. The project intends to focus on catch-up learning to support most vulnerable children who experienced disruption and need a target intervention to ‘catch-up’.

Given its already established partnership, Mr. Geomel P. Jetonzo, Brigada Pagbasa Program Director of World Vision Development Foundation together with Prof. Flora C. Arellano of the Education Network (E-Net) Philippines, met with Mr. Enrico R. Mendoza, Head of the LCC Secretariat and Ms. Marikka P. Mampusti, lead focal person for the Advocacy, Social Mobilization, and Partnerships last February 9, 2023 to beef up the implementation and widen the reach of the program with the assistance of the Literacy Coordinating Council.

The meeting covered Mr. Jetonzo’s presentation on the rationale of the program including its objectives, implementation strategy, approach, key design features. Mr. Jetonzo shared that the program serves as a first-aid solution that can be used by anyone who are interested to teach literacy in their respective communities, let it be the teachers, non-DepEd volunteers, student volunteers, and guardians of learners. One of the highlights of the meeting was the discussion of the potential areas for support of the LCC in scaling up the implementation of the program which includes increased involvement of the organization on LCC activities including its conferences, fora, and summits. LCC also commits to include the World Vision as one of its identified partners that local government units and non-government organizations can refer to should they initiate to implement a community-based literacy reading program to improve their literacy situation in the ground.

Now, more than ever, the LCC and its Secretariat reechoes its support to the Brigada Pagbasa program as it continuously works on the development of interventions that aid in lessening the learning gap through its literacy programs. Through this partnership, it is reaffirmed that it takes a village to raise a child, hence, villagers in the form of the World Vision are gladly welcome as one our allies in universalizing literacy in the country.

For local government units, nongovernment organizations, or anyone who wish to know more about the Brigada Pagbasa’s Catch Up Program (CUP), kindly visit the link: https://bit.ly/BrigadaPagbasa_CUP. Those who are interested to implement the Brigada Pagbasa CUP may reach out to the LCC Secretariat through email at lcc@deped.gov.ph to facilitate smooth coordination with the proponent organization for potential collaboration.

LCC Secretariat

Ika-153 na Pagpupulong ng LCC, Pinangasiwaan ni VP Secretary Sara Z. Duterte

Sa pangunguna ni Vice President at Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Z. Duterte na siya ring Chairperson ng Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC), ginanap ang ika-153 na pagpupulong ng konseho noong Pebrero 2, 2023 sa pamamagitan ng Zoom video conference.

Bise Presidente ng Republika ng Pilipinas at Kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon,
Sara Z. Duterte habang namumuno sa pulong ng 153rd LCC Meeting

Kabilang sa mga tinalakay sa nasabing pagpupulong ang mga detalye na nagtatampok sa mga programa at gawaing ipatutupad ng LCC sa taong 2023, tulad ng mga update tungkol sa LCC localization, pagrerepaso ng Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey o FLEMMS, at iba pang mahahalagang paksa tungkol sa literasiya.

Kuha ni Vice President-Secretary Sara Z. Duterte habang pinangangasiwaan
ang miting ng Konseho

Ang nasabing pagpupulong ay dinaluhan ng mga miyembro at kinatawan ng LCC na sina Congressman Roman Romulo ng House of Representatives, Dr. Bert Tuga ng Philippine Normal University (PNU), Undersecretary Gina Gonong ng DepEd, Prof. Flora Arellano ng E-Net Philippines, Director Anna Liza Bonagua ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Assistant Director Edgardo Aranjuez ng National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Atty. Joseph Llames ng Philippine Information Agency (PIA), at Atty. Katryn Cadiente na kumatawan kay Senator Sherwin Gatchalian ng Senado. Kasamang nakibahagi sa miting na ito sina Assistant Secretary G.H. S. Ambat at Assistant Secretary Alma Ruby Torio ng DepEd Curriculum and Teaching strand, Assistant National Statistician Wilma Guillen ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), at iba pang mga panauhin mula sa ahensyang kasapi ng LCC.

Sa isang bahagi ng pulong, masayang ibinalita ni Representative Romulo ang may kaugnayan sa pagsasapinal ng panukalang batas sa pagtatatag ng National Literacy Council sa ikatlong pagbasa sa mababang kapulungan ng Kongreso sa pagitan ng Pebrero at Marso nitong taon. 

Kuha ni Congressman Roman Romulo habang nagbibigay ng kanyang komento
sa usapin ng FLEMMS

Samantala, idiniin naman ni Dr. Tuga ng PNU ang kahalagahan ng papel ng mga lokal na pamahalaan sa pagpapaigting ng literasiya ng mga pamilya, partikular na ang mga kabataan na nagbalik-loob sa pamahalaan at kasalukuyang naninirahan sa mga relocation area. Bilang tugon, nangako ang pamunuan ng DILG na pagtutuunan nila ito ng pansin bilang kasapi ng resettlement government na handang magbigay ng serbisyo sa publiko.

Sinagot naman ni Assistant National Statistician Guillen ng PSA ang ilan sa mga katanungan sa pagrerepaso ng FLEMMS. Aniya, may mga hamon ang ahensya sa badyet para sa pagsasaliksik. Kasunod nito, nagpahayag ng suporta si Congressman Romulo katulong ang Senado upang matugunan ang pangangailangang ito.

Taos-pusong nagpapasalamat ang LCC Secretariat sa lahat ng nagpangyaring maging matagumpay ang pagpupulong na ito na ang layunin ay mapaunlad ang literasiya ng mga Pilipino.

Larawan ni Undersecretary Gina Gonong ng DepEd Curriculum and Teaching at iba pang miyembro at kinatawan ng LCC kasama ang PSA
Larawan ng mga miyembro at kinatawan ng LCC, DepEd Curriculum and Teaching, Philippine Statistics Authority at LCC Secretariat hango sa pagtatapos ng 153rd LCC Meeting

LCC Secretariat

TALAKAYAN SA PAGSASAPINAL NG POLISIYA SA PAGBUO NG LOCAL LITERACY COUNCIL, ISINAGAWA SA BAGUIO CITY

Sa pangunguna ng Literacy Coordinating Council Secretariat (LCCS), nagsama-sama ang mga kinatawan mula sa mga piling ahensya ng gobyerno para sa isang talakayan na may adhikaing maisapinal ang polisiya na magiging gabay ng mga lungsod o munisipalidad sa pagbuo ng local Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC). Ang nasabing okasyon ay idinaos sa Ion Hotel sa Lungsod ng Baguio noong Nobyembe 22 hanggang 25, 2022.

Ang tatlong araw na pagtitipong ito ay pinalooban ng mga diskusyon at talakayang may layuning makabuo ng panibagong Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) ng Department of Education (DepEd) at ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Isa rin sa hangarin ng nasabing pagtitipon ang mas maayos pa ang pagrebisa sa manwal na magiging gabay sa mga lokal na pamahalaan para makabuo ng kanilang sariling LCC.

Napakahalaga ng talakayang ito dahil ito’y bahagi ng istratehiya at adbokasiya ng LCC upang mapuksa ang illiteracy sa bansa. Sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon ng JMC na pagtitibayin ng DepEd at DILG at gayun din ang manwal sa pagbuo ng local LCC, mas mapaiigting pa ng LCC ang pagtiyak sa pagpapalaganap ng gobyerno ng mga programa nito may kinalaman sa literasiya.

LCC Secretariat

The LCC Secretariat is Given Recognition During the 2022 Gawad Gintong LIYAB Awarding Ceremony

After this year’s immersion of the Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) in numerous challenging activities and engagements, the Council marked its first ever in-person awarding ceremony for the LCC Secretariat during the 2022 Gawad Gintong LIYAB. The event was conducted in conjunction with the LCC’s Year-end Assessment and Planning Workshop on December 14, 2022 at DepEd NEAP Region XI in Davao City. With the theme “Rising to the Challenge with Excellence in Service,” this recognition and appreciation rites aim to acknowledge the excellent performance of the LCC Secretariat who spent long hours of hard work and tons of sacrifices in implementing the Council’s programs, projects, and activities for Fiscal Year 2022, being able to successfully surpass all the challenges brought about by the still lingering COVID-19 virus.

Pursuant to the provisions of DepEd Order No. 9, s. 2002 titled “Establishing the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) in the Department of Education,” the LCC Secretariat established its own PRAISE program for its technical and administrative personnel. On December 22, 2020, at the height of the pandemic, the first awarding ceremony for the LCC Secretariat was held via Microsoft Teams. The following year, on December 10, 2021, the LCCS staff were accorded with honor, recognition, and incentives during its virtual conduct of the 2021 Year-end Activity with the theme “Recognizing Excellence, Celebrating Wins.” These celebrations motivated the staff and provided them with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. These initiatives were made in order to encourage excellent performance, quality work output and productivity.

Consequently in 2022, the Five Program Pillars of the LCC was institutionalized. LIYAB stands for Likha (Policy Research and Development), Ilaw (Advocacy, Social Mobilization, and Partnerships), Yaman (Knowledge Management), Aruga (Learning and Organizational Development), and Buklod (LCC Localization), representing the 5 Key Result Areas of the Council under program management. Anent to this, the 2022 Awarding Ceremony for the LCC Secretariat was called “Gawad Gintong LIYAB.” This branding best represents the distinction bestowed to the members of the LCC Secretariat for being able to successfully achieve the annual objectives of the Council which are anchored on the 5 program pillars. From here on, the annual conduct of this PRAISE activity will be called “Gawad Gintong Liyab.”

Apart from recognizing the efforts of the Secretariat, the LCC also awarded the Council member representatives, Technical Working Group members, and resource persons for their contributions and efforts to push for the effective and efficient implementation of the Council’s programs, projects, and activities for 2022. Each of the awardees received a plaque and a certificate of recognition.

The LCC member representatives, LCC Secretariat personnel, and resource persons receive their plaques and certificates of recognition for the 2022 Gawad Gintong LIYAB.

The night, filled with excitement, laughter, and tears of joy, ended with heartwarming messages of support and inspiration of the representative speakers from each of the categories.

LCC Secretariat

VP-Secretary Sara Z. Duterte, Pinangasiwaan ang Ika-152 na Pagpupulong ng LCC

19 Disyembre 2022. Pinangasiwaan ni VP-Secretary Sara Z. Duterte, Kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon at Chairperson ng Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) ang ika-152 pagpupulong ng LCC nitong ika-14 ng Disyembre na siyang isinagawa sa Zoom.

Kuha ni VP-Secretary Sara Z. Duterte noong ika-152 na pagpupulong ng LCC

Pangunahing tinalakay sa pagpupulong ang napakahalagang papel na dapat gampanan ng mga lokal na pamahalaan sa pagpuksa sa illiteracy sa kani-kanilang komunidad. Hinimok ni VP Sara at ng mga ahensyang kasapi sa LCC ang mga punong lungsod at munisipalidad na agarang magtatag ng mga local literacy councils na siyang magsisilbing mekanismo sa pagtiyak na maisasagawa ang community literacy mapping, pagtukoy ng mga hindi nakapag-aral o kulang sa kasanayan at kaalaman sa literasiya, at pagbibigay ng karampatang programang pang-edukasyon, bukod sa marami pang iba.

Kuha mula sa idinaos na ika-152 na pagpupulong ng LCC sa Zoom

Kasama sa mga dumalo sa pagpupulong sina Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian ng Committee on Basic Education ng Senado, Congressman Roman T. Romulo ng Committee on Basic Education and Culture ng House of Representatives, President Bert J. Tuga ng Philippine Normal University, Director-General Ramon Cualoping III at Deputy Director-General Karl Louie B. Fajardo ng Philippine Information Agency, Dir. Girlie Grace J. Casimiro-Igtiben ng National Economic and Development Authority, at Prof. Flora C. Arellano ng Education Network Philippines na siyang kinatawan ng mga non-government organizations. Maliban sa mga nabanggit, naanyayahan din na dumalo ang ilan sa mga opisyales, direktor, at puno ng ilang opisina sa Kagawaran ng Edukasyon sa ilalim ng Curriculum and Instruction strand na pinangunahan ni Undersecretary Gina O. Gonong, Assistant Secretary G. H. S. Ambat, at Assistant Secretary Alma Ruby C. Torio.

Mga kuha ng mga nagsipagdalo sa idinaos na ika-152 na pagpupulong ng LCC sa Zoom

Ibinihagi rin ni Cong. Romulo na tutukan ang paghahanap ng kaugnayan ng mga pananaliksik na ginagawa ng konseho sa resulta ng mga naisagawang local at international assessment sa literasiya na siyang nagpapakita ng kasalukuyang sitwasyon ng literasiya sa bansa. Dagdag pa ni Sen. Gatchalian, maliban sa pagpapapasa ng mga batas tungkol sa literasiya, mas mainam na tutukan ng konseho ang paglikha ng konkretong paraan upang masugpo ang mabigat na suliranin ng literasiya sa pamamagitan ng pag-mobilize ng mga lokal na pamahalaan na hanapin, turuan, at tulungan ang mga kababayan nating hirap makabasa.

Ilan pa sa tinalakay sa pagpupulong ang may kaugnayan sa pananaliksik, pagbuo ng mga polisiya, adbokasiya, at iba pang mahahalagang paksa tungkol sa pagpapalaganap ng literasiya sa bansa. Ang susunod na pagpupulong ng konseho ay magaganap sa unang quarter ng 2023.

Para sa higit pang impormasyon, pakisuyong makipag-ugnayan sa LCC Secretariat sa pamamagitan ng Facebook page nito, Literacy Coordinating Council, at e-mail sa lcc@deped.gov.ph.

#LCCMeeting #SulongEdukalidad #ParaSaLiterasiya

DepEd Formulates Plans and Budgets for Gender and Development

The Department of Education, through the Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development (BHROD), conducted a webinar entitled “#GADukasyon: Formulation of the Gender and Development (GAD) Plans and Budgets” on November 9-10, 2022 via Zoom. This enables the GAD Focal Persons and Coordinators to determine the appropriate content of the GAD Plans and Budget for (GPB)proper submission to the offices which will help the Central Office consolidate the agency’s centralized submission to the Gender Mainstreaming and Monitoring System (GMMS) of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). This will also ensure the prioritization in addressing the agency’s Audit Observation Memo and must be given importance as it will be a counterpart document in checking the GAD Accomplishment Report. This two-day online event was participated in by GAD focal persons from Schools Division Office and school, DepEd Central Office, and Regional Office.

Director Nina Bianca D. Sanglay, Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development formally opens the program.
Earl Ryan A. Losito, Supervising Administrative Officer, OIC-Chief Administrative Officer, Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development – Employee Welfare Division (BHROD-EWD) presents the overview and objectives of the webinar.

Dr. Rowena S. Navera, National GAD Resource Pool and Vice President for Academic Affairs from the Philippine State College of Aeronautics, discussed in detail the preparation and submission of the FY 2023 GAD Plans and Budget, including the costing and attribution, process and deadline for submission.

Through this DepEd-initiated webinar on GAD, the LCC Secretariat becomes one with the Department in promoting gender and development among its staff and stakeholders through creation of related projects and activities for FY 2023.

LCCS Joins the Celebration of 2022 National Mental Health Week

On October 13, 2022, the Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) Secretariat joined the Learning Session on Mental Health for Central Office (CO) Personnel at DepEd NCR RELC in Marikina City, in celebration of the 2022 National Mental Health Week. Spearheaded by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS), in collaboration with the Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development-Employee Welfare Division (BHROD-EWD) and the Bureau of Learner Support Services-School Health Division (BLSS-SHD), the said activity catered to CO staff representing their respective offices, bureaus and/or services. The objectives of this learning session was to strengthen the understanding and knowledge of the DepEd CO staff on mental health and its related services, realize the importance of mental health in the education sector, raise advocates for mental health, and emphasize the integration of mental health wellness across the programs and projects within DepEd.

The relative learning session started with a mindfulness activity facilitated by the DRRMS followed by the Opening Remarks of Ms. Ronilda R. Co, Director IV of DRRMS. During her talk, she elaborated on the mental health-related supports that the DRRMS has been providing especially onset of the pandemic, such as conduct of psychosocial supports, provision of technical assistance to selected DepEd offices in establishing/managing mental health programs, and forging of partnerships with The Cultural Center of the Philippines, Psychological Association of the Philippines, Unilab, Inc., Save the Children, among others.

Dir. Co also stressed that the heads of offices provide the visions and strategies but it is the employees who actually work on them. “The office can only go as far as the employees can go. There is a need to take care of them,” as she dubbed. She also added that resting should not only happen when one feels exhausted but must always be mindful of. She ended her speech by reminding everyone that in everything that is done, the heart should always be present, and not just the brain.

After the Opening Program, the participants listened and learned a lot from the resource speakers. In the morning session, Dr. Joffrey E. Quiring, talked about the Mental Health in the Philippines while Mr. Erickson A. Amion shared valuable concepts on The Importance of Mental Health in Education Sector. Meanwhile, Dr. Dinah Palmera P. Nadera tackled the Case Studies about Mental Health Education, followed by Ms. Dhanika Austine K. Garcia, ending the afternoon session with a Mental Health Advocacy. Topics pondered on during the learning session were the definition of mental health, stressors and their effects to mental health, signs of mental health problems, situation of mental health in schools, ways to improve mental health and their benefits, case studies concerning mental health wellness and mental health advocacy.

After the plenary sessions, the participants proceeded to the break-out session where each group came up with a poster in respond to the questions: 1) What is a Mentally Healthy DepEd ? and 2) How can the CO personnel advocate for it in the Department? Afterwards, all five groups were given the opportunity to share their respective outputs. 

At the end of the day, Dr. Co expressed her gratitude to the Technical Working Group and reiterated to the group the importance and impact of checking on people, specifically one’s staff, because it also adds to the perspective of the whole team. She promoted collaboration among the participants and reminded everyone to always practice compassion to oneself and to others.

Before the participants parted ways, they were asked of their commitments on promoting and sustaining sound mental health, and were instructed to put them into sticky notes before finally posting them in the wall. The group understood that the last activity meant that everyone needed each other’s back in fulfilling their commitments. After all, we are all in this together.

The LCC Secretariat (LCCS) regularly responds to various invitations from DepEd offices and all other literacy stakeholders to extend its support towards achieving literacy for all, including the mental health wellness. The LCCS joins in the promotion and spreading of awareness on mental health wellness among all Filipinos. By attending in such activities, the Council gains wider perspective and insights, especially coming from the lived experiences at the grassroots level that are essential in coming up with policy recommendations beneficial to the communities.

Jem Beryline S. Bualat

PDO II, LCC Secretariat