NEWS RELEASE||𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝐵𝑈𝑇𝑈𝐴𝑁 𝐶𝐼𝑇𝑌, 𝑃𝐻𝐼𝐿𝐼𝑃𝑃𝐼𝑁𝐸𝑆, 𝑂𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑏𝑒𝑟 30, 2024 –– 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱) 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 (𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗢𝗠) 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰, 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀, 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀. 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗘𝗔𝗣 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗖. 𝗔𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗢 𝗜𝗩, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝟭𝟮 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the minutes from the previous session, followed by a comprehensive review of the status of previously agreed-upon initiatives. Presented by Jonathan F. Garzon, Lead Secretariat and Education Program Supervisor of the Field Technical Assistance Division (FTAD), these updates showcased the ongoing progress in multiple areas of educational development within the region.

Key Status Updates on Previous Agreements

1. Finance Monitoring – The Finance Department confirmed that quarterly fund utilization for Kindergarten through Grade 6 across Schools Division Offices (SDOs) has been monitored, ensuring the effective allocation of educational resources.

2. Infrastructure Projects – The Education Support Services Division (ESSD) submitted infrastructure proposals for essential school repairs, furniture needs, electrification, and health facilities to the Office of the Undersecretary for School Infrastructure.

3. Decentralization of Catch-Up Fridays – The Curriculum and Learning Management Division (CLMD) addressed concerns surrounding the implementation of “Catch-Up Fridays” during inter-departmental discussions, ensuring an effective learning structure across divisions.

4. Human Resource Summary – The Administrative Services Division-Human Resource Unit compiled an updated summary of unfilled positions, addressing staffing requirements in the region’s 12 SDOs.

5. Data Storage System – The Policy, Planning, and Research Division (PPRD) initiated steps to develop a centralized data storage system to streamline the management of regional data.

6. Special Programs and Alternative Learning – The Quality Assurance Division (QAD) published a list of schools offering specialized programs and emphasized the exploration of Blended Learning and Alternative Delivery Modes (ADM), with SDOs actively participating in these efforts.

Regional Director’s Updates and New Partnerships

Regional Director Asuncion highlighted recent advancements in learning resources and significant partnerships designed to boost educational access and quality in the Caraga Region:

• Learning Resources – Recent procurements of Self-Learning Modules (SLMs), tablets for Alternative Learning System (ALS), and storybooks for reading programs amounting to P165.5 million were completed, with additional procurements planned for 2025.

• New Collaborations – A Memorandum of Agreement was signed with SPRIX Education and Technology to implement the Test of Fundamental Academic Skills (TOFAS) in mathematics for Grades 4 to 10. Further partnerships were established with Caraga State University, Philippine Information Agency, Khan Academy Philippines, and the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation to provide comprehensive support in fields such as science, journalism, mathematics, and STEM education.

Functional Division Updates and New Directives

Each functional division presented updates, leading to new directives aimed at strengthening educational services in the region.

Notable agreements included:

• Enhancing partnerships with TESDA to assess Senior High School learner skills.

• Submitting an action plan for the Technical-Vocational Livelihood (TVL) Program Implementation by October 29, 2024.

• Submitting proposals for Human Resource Training and Development (HRTD) funds.

• Ensuring timely obligations of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) fund for life-saving emergency supplies.

The 6th Regional Mancom meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from all participants to advance educational initiatives, forge strategic partnerships, and address critical infrastructure and resource needs to improve learning outcomes for Caraga’s students. Assistant Regional Director Dr. Pedro T. Escobarte, CESO IV, co-presided the meeting.

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151; 0961-737-08-73; 0977-739-44-53. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph, pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph

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