𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 || 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐄𝐝 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡, 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐲𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬

𝐿𝑒𝑎ℎ 𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛 𝑉. 𝑌𝑎𝑜𝑦𝑎𝑜

𝑇𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡

𝑅𝑂-𝐸𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑆𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝐷𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛

BUTUAN CITY, March 07, 2025—𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱) 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟯 𝘁𝗼 𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, 𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝘆𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀.

The visit began on March 3 with courtesy calls to Assistant Regional Director Pedro T. Escobarte Jr. at the DepEd Caraga Regional Office and Butuan City Schools Division Superintendent Minerva T. Albis at the Butuan City Division Office. Assisting the central office team were key personnel from the DepEd Caraga Regional Office, led by Dr. Anna Liza A. Lerio, Dentist III, along with Rena Grace G. Tul-id, Nutritionist-Dietitian II, Lee Anne Mae A. Alicaya, Technical Assistant for the School-Based Feeding Program, and Charlestone A. Otaza and Leah Ellen V. Yaoyao, Technical Assistants from the School Mental Health Program. Dr. Jumer C. Carlon, Health and Nutrition Unit Head, and Dr. Edmund D. Mendoza, ESSD Chief, joined them.

The official National OK sa DepEd Progress Monitoring session happened on March 4 at Sta. Cruz Elementary School in Butuan City. It highlighted key DepEd initiatives such as the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program, School Canteen, School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP), and Wash in Schools (WinS). Central office personnel Hazel Mae Catacutan, Chin Buenvenida, Sophia Delos Reyes, and Ellafher Ramos led the program evaluation.

The visit included a welcoming dance and a video presentation showcasing the school's efforts under the OK sa DepEd (OKD) programs. This was followed by on-site inspections of the school's garden, canteen, and hygiene facilities, including accessible toilets for persons with disabilities (PWDs). Sta. Cruz Elementary's 1.5-hectare Gulayan sa Paaralan was particularly commended for producing vegetables like papaya and eggplant, which support the feeding program. Observations also highlighted the school's handwashing and toothbrushing activities, food safety measures, and waste management practices.

While the team praised the Wash in Schools program and the provision of sterilized milk through the SBFP, they recommended improvements such as clearer toilet labeling and better faucet-to-student ratios. Dr. Lerio suggested a ratio of one faucet per 10 elementary students and one per 4 high school students. Meanwhile, Ma'am Albis emphasized the critical role of leadership in school improvement and advised consulting legal offices to ensure proper documentation.

The monitoring continued on March 5 with visits to Cabadbaran City and Surigao City Divisions. The team first toured the Crops Producers Cooperative (CROPPCO) in Cabadbaran City, which supplies organic squash noodles for school feeding programs. Since 2019, CROPPCO has been a key partner in providing nutritious food to DepEd learners.

At Quezon Elementary School in Surigao City, the team reviewed the school's innovative solutions to weather-related gardening challenges, such as using hanging wheels for planting. The school's harvests support both the feeding program and generate additional income. However, the school faces obstacles, including insufficient washing facilities and limited repair resources.

In the afternoon, the team met with SGOD Chief Elizabeth Larase to discuss feedback from the site visits. Despite resource constraints, the SBFP in Surigao City continues to provide vital support through nutribuns and other nutritional interventions. The school's integration of the Gulayan sa Paaralan into classroom learning and the active participation of parents and stakeholders were recognized as strengths. However, pressing issues remain, such as improving water access, replacing outdated equipment, and restoring key facilities like the school clinic and canteen.

Despite these challenges, progress monitoring confirmed meaningful advances in hygiene and health initiatives. Quezon Elementary School's handwashing stations, gender-specific toilets, and educational materials on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WinS) are helping foster a healthier school environment.

The visits highlighted the essential collaboration between DepEd, local government units, and community stakeholders in sustaining school-based health, nutrition, and agricultural programs. While significant progress has been made, continued efforts are needed to address infrastructure gaps, enhance resource availability, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems. Most importantly, the dedication of school personnel, parents, and the wider community remains vital to ensuring the long-term success of these initiatives and the well-being of every learner.

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.

Photos from: Lee Anne Mae L. Alicaya and Charlestone A. Otaza

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