NEWS RELEASE|| 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐄𝐝 𝐍𝐂𝐑 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚’𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦

𝐴𝑙 𝐽ℎ𝑜𝑛 𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑧 𝑀. 𝑂𝑡𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑦

𝑇𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝐼-𝐸𝑆𝑆𝐷

BUTUAN CITY, October 22, 2025—𝗜𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗖. 𝗔𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱) 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮, 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗗) 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗗𝗿. 𝗘𝗱𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗗. 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘇𝗮, 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗡𝗖𝗥) 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗞𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 (𝗦𝗕𝗙𝗣) 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗬 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟯 𝘁𝗼 𝟮𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.

The activity was organized by the Health and Nutrition Unit, led by Jumer C. Carlon, MD, Medical Officer IV, in coordination with Ms. Rena Grace G. Tul-id, Nutritionist-Dietician II. The NCR representatives were the coordinators of the six flagship programs of Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd (OK sa DepEd). Among them were medical officers, nutritionist-dieticians, nurses, technical assistants, planning officers, education program supervisors, school principals, engineers, project development officers, SGOD personnel, and public schools district supervisors from the SDOs of Las Pinas, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, and San Juan.

Among them were:

NCR Regional Office:

Connie P. Gepanayao, MD, FPPS (MO IV, RO NCR)

Jennifer V. Belleza (ND II)

Eunice F. Labon (TA I)

Schools Division Offices:

Las Pinas

Levie Rizza P. Eusebio (Nurse II)

Ronaldo B. Lara (Principal IV, )

Edwin B. Rosario (Nurse II)

Andrew L. Quilatan (Planning Officer II)

Elmer R. Mediante (TA I)

Mandaluyong

Shirley S. Sesbreño (EPS II)

Charisse Ann L. Casuga (Nurse II)

Jocelyn N. Tamayo (School Principal II)

Ramilo P. Pascual (School Principal I)

Ma. Theresa G. Gamboa (SEPS SocMob)

Crispin A. Mejica (EPS, SGOD)

Edgar S. Belmonte (PSDS)

Muntinlupa

Ma. Teresa S. Indap (Nurse II, Division SBFP Focal)

Christian Paul A. Dela Vega (SEPS SocMob)

Amor M. Cascalla (Nurse II, Division Alternate SBFP Focal)

Shella C. Navarro (Principal IV)

Jerone M. Tagapan (Engineer III)

King Solidini J. Torres (PDO I)

Ma. Myra E. Namit (PSDS)

San Juan City

Via May S. Popes (Nurse II/OIC-SGOD Chief, Division SBFP Focal)

Kirsten Ellinore B. Francisco (MO III)

Raven M. Alcantara (Division Engineer)

Noemi A. Velario (EPS)

Mery Jean E. Devilleres (Master Teacher II, OIC School Head)

Over three days, the NCR delegation visited model schools with central kitchens across Butuan City and Surigao del Norte, observing operations, interacting with school leaders, and gathering insights to replicate within their own divisions.

Day 1 featured presentations and messages from key officials, including Dr. Mendoza, Dr. Carlon, with Ms. Tul-id delivering the statement of purpose. Butuan City Schools Division Superintendent Minerva T. Albis delivered the message of gratitude on behalf of RD Asuncion. This was followed by SDO video presentations, with Ms. Vilma A. Sobrevilla showcasing Butuan City’s Central Kitchen of Libertad Central Elementary School, and Ms. Hazel M. Ladroma presenting Surigao del Norte’s initiatives of Mainit, Placer West, Gigaquit, and Claver Central Elementary Schools. An open forum and feedback session with regional health personnel provided clarifications and technical assistance. Dr. Mendoza capped the session with his “ways forward” message, before a group photo. The participants visited Libertad Central Elementary School for the benchmarking proper, where they were welcomed by Barangay Captain Hon. Vincent Rizal C. Rosario. The visit ended with a closing message from Dr. Fe M. Puspus.

Day 2 continued with benchmarking at Mainit Central Elementary School and Tubod Central Elementary School in Surigao del Norte, facilitated by Ms. Hazel M. Ladroma, Nurse II/Division SBFP Focal, SDO Surigao del Norte. The team received strong LGU support, highlighted by Tubod Vice Mayor Hon. Richelle B. Romarate’s closing message.

Day 3 concluded with visits to Placer, Gigaquit, and Claver Central Elementary Schools, where local officials once again extended support. The final benchmarking session ended in Claver with a message of support from Municipal Mayor Hon. Georgia D. Gokiangkee.

The three-day activity showcased Caraga’s innovative approaches in centralized food preparation, LGU partnerships, and efficient resource management. NCR personnel gathered valuable lessons and best practices, underscoring the importance of regional collaboration in uplifting the health and nutrition of learners nationwide.

Dr. Mendoza highlighted that the engagement served as “a valuable platform for cross-regional learning, enabling NCR to gain insights from Caraga’s model practices and for Caraga to strengthen its commitment to health and nutrition excellence.”

By hosting the benchmarking, DepEd Caraga reaffirmed its role as a model region in central kitchen management for SBFP, inspiring other regions to adopt effective strategies that ensure learners are well-nourished and ready to learn.

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151, 0961-737-0873, or 0915-808-4734. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph.

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