Marines, DepEd launches “As a Filipino” Learning System in Basilan

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Who said that winning peace in Basilan meant only using bullets and bombs?

In partnership with Isabela City Department of Education (DEPED), the 1^st Marine Brigade under Brigadier General Eugenio N Clemen AFP launched the “Union Bank Learning System” Program Workshop for teachers of Tipo-Tipo East and West, and Maluso East and West Elementary School.

The activity was intended to train the teachers on how to implement the program which focuses on values education for good citizenship among the Grade 2 students through enhanced reading skills and comprehension.

The two-day Orientation Workshop kicked-off on August 5, 2010 at the Area Coordinating Center in Isabela City. The workshop was attended and participated in by about 90 English teachers from the aforementioned schools. The orientation workshop was successfully conducted under the supervision of Ms Hilda U. Babon, the DEPED School Divisions Superintendent.

In related development, a total of 7,132 grade II students from various schools from Isabela City, Lamitan City, Tipo-Tipo and Maluso Municipalities were the latest recipients of the Union Bank Learning System. The program is a joint project of the UnionBank of the Philippines (Corporate Philanthropy and Social Responsibility Division) under Ms Maria Gonzalez Goolsby, the 1^st Marine Brigade and the Department of Education (Basilan).

Last Monday, August 9, more than 2,000 English students and teacher’s workbooks were turned-over to the faculty members of the Lamitan Central Elementary School for distribution to recipients. The affair was attended by the DEPED Divisions Superintendent Mr Jailani T Tandih; Lamitan City Mayor Roderick “Oric” Furigay; BGen Eugenio N Clemen AFP, Cmdr, 1MBDE; Mrs Carmelita A. Limbo, Principal of Lamitan Central Elementary School, Lamitan City and the MBLT-10 Executive Officer, Major Edwin Joseph H Olaer PN(M).

During the turn-over ceremony, Basma Ahmad, a Grade II student expressed her heartfelt thanks on behalf of all the grade II students, to all the people behind the program, specially to the Union Bank officials and the Marines for giving them the books and other reading materials, which they will surely enjoy reading and help upgrade the quality of education.

Roderick H Furigay, Lamitan City Mayor, in his message during the affair, congratulated the teachers and the students. He stressed further that these learning program and the books will go a long way in improving the quality of education and will benefit not only the Grade II pupils this year, but the years to come. He added that the teachers and students will surely value these books and will put them into good use.

General Clemen, in his message, said that this program and many more will continue to be implemented as many different Manila-based donors promised to support the Command in its quest for lasting peace and prosperity in Basilan Province through an enhanced quality education which he believed is the long-ranged solution to the insurgency and terrorism problems in Basilan Province. (1MBDE/PIA9-BST)