LGUS earn seal for good educational governance
EVEN before the pandemic, the private sector—led by major companies like PLDT Inc.—has always stepped up in helping the government uplift the state of the country’s education from the doldrums.
PLDT Inc. and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) recently provided more than P2.16 million worth of communication support to local government units (LGUS) that successfully implemented education programs.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Synergeia Foundation identified recipients for the 2020-2021 Seal of Good Education Governance. Now running on its fourth year, 27 cities and municipalities were recognized for ensuring continuous learning in their communities notwithstanding the pandemic.
Criteria used by the two organizations in selecting this year’s “Seal…” awardees include a high cohort-survival rate, ratio of current enrollment compared to the previous academic year, decrease in the number of frustrated and nonreaders, a reinvented local school board, and functional school-governing councils.
“PLDT and Smart understand that learning never stops, even during a pandemic,” Smart’s Vice President for Community Partnerships Darwin F. Flores said during the virtual ceremony. “We recognize the role of education in producing quality human capital, as our companies are heavily dependent on this.”
The awarding for this year’s Seal of Good Education Governance took place during the 14th Washington Sycip National Education Summit—a two-day online event that gathered educators, parents and local government officials to discuss education issues. Guests included Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo, USAID Acting Administrator Gloria Steele and Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian, who heads the Senate committee on basic education, arts, and culture.
“The culture-building ability of Synergeia transforms ordinary mayors into champions of education,” Gatchalian explained. “We need passion and commitment so that all education reforms will be properly implemented on the ground, to each classroom in this country.”
Recipients of the 2020-2021 Seal of Good Education Governance included first-time awardees Balanga City, Bataan; San Fernando City, La Union; General Santos City; San Manuel, Pangasinan; Roxas, Palawan; as well as Barotac Viejo and Dumangas in Iloilo.
Two-time winners were Padre Garcia, Batangas; Agoo, La Union; San Gabriel, La Union; Ivisan and Mambusao in Capiz; Alimodian, Iloilo; Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.
Those who received the seal for the third time were Tuba, Benguet; Cabatuan and Concepcion, Iloilo; Villaverde, Nueva Vizcaya; and Navotas City, Metro Manila.
LGUS conferred with the seal on the fourth instance were Solano, Nueva Vizcaya; Bacnotan, La Union; Diffun, Quirino; Mina, Iloilo; Cagayan de Oro City; Datu Paglas and North Upi, Maguindanao; and Valenzuela City, Metro Manila.
PLDT and Smart will be providing each of the 27 “Seal…” winners with a P80,000 communication allowance that can be used for call, text and data services. Flores said, “The package is intended to help local government units [LGUS] coordinate more effectively and implement their education programs successfully.”
Robredo remarked: “If this pandemic has taught us anything, it is that our lives are intertwined. Each of us is a stakeholder contributing to this project of nationbuilding.”
She added, “The education of our children rests not only on the shoulders of the academe. It is a responsibility shared across entire communities, and together in the spirit of bayanihan is what will see us through.”
PLDT and Smart have been active since 2017 supporting USAID and Synergeia in recognizing LGUS that promote and sustain quality education for their citizens.