DepEd lauds Apayao's literacy program for delinquent youth

THE LITERACY Coordinating Council (LCC) of the Department of Education (DepEd) has conferred the "Coffee Table Book" award to the town government of Flora in Apayao province for training its out-ofschool youth (OSY), who are also children in conflict with the law (CICL), to become entrepreneurs and good citizens.

Flora is the lone entry of the Cordillera in the national literacy council’s search, with its program called ‘Panangus-usi’, an Isnag term which means “to change”.

“It’s our dream to transform these children to become better individuals. Being the government, we have to address the problem of children getting involved in illegal activities and later against getting involved in illegal drugs," Flora Mayor Rodolfo Juan said.

Juan said his town government's ‘Panangus-usi’ program was born in 2014, when the number of OSY, who are also in conflict with the law, was noted to be on the rise.

The program includes giving skills training and capabilities to the children to distract them from illegal activities and vices -- and allow them to earn.

One of the skills provided was how to weave a doormat using old mosquito nets. They were also able to produce and sell bags using the same material, which is being sold to employees of the local government.

Juan added included in the program is spiritual awareness, which builds a positive behavior among the minors.

“Spiritual development makes a person stay away from illegal activities. It prevents them from committing infractions and offenses,” he said.

This includes lecture, counseling, stress management, moral recovery, and group activities to develop their interpersonal skills.

“It also enhances the entrepreneur capability of these CICL, for them to augment their family income,” Juan said, adding that Flora has been allotting funding for the program.

"We have already allocated P200,000 to sustain the program, and of course, we will see to it that what we have started will continue to develop," he said.

The mayor also cited the program for the OSY-CICL was expanded to include young drug surrenderers in the town and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), when President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016.

“To curb the problems on illegal drugs and in order to attain a peaceful municipality to live, to work, and to do business, we used the same program for the drug surrenderers,” he said. "This is to make them realize that after getting involved in crimes or illegal acMunicipal tivities, they still have to change and even transform to become better citizens."

Juan said the town government's close coordination with DepEd, other government agencies, and stakeholders was what made Flora get the award.

“It is our priority to achieve a healthy community for the young generation, to provide good service, easy access to income-generating activities, and of course, to education," he said.

He also disclosed the town government's plan to organize a local council to help sustain and monitor the program.