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𝑃𝐷𝑂 𝐼, 𝐷𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑎𝑜 𝑑𝑒𝑙 𝑆𝑢𝑟

LIANGGA, SURIGAO DEL SUR, March 7, 2025— 𝗜𝗻 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗗𝗜𝗟𝗚) 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗫𝗜𝗜𝗜, 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗿, 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗼 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻, 𝗟𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮, 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗿, 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟲. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 (𝗜𝗣) 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀.

The Schools Division of Surigao del Sur, led by Dr. Lorenzo O. Macasocol, CESO V, extended substantial support to the learners of Simowao Elementary School of Living Tradition. The contributions included 200 books, 52 stuffed toys, 3 packs of glass beads for breadwork activities, and 102 multivitamins. Additionally, 104 backpacks—generously provided through the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ "Gamit ni Bulilit" program—were distributed. Each backpack contained essential school supplies, including ten notebooks, three pencils, one box (12 pieces) of crayons, and other learning materials. Moreover, the Gawad Kalinga Foundation contributed four boxes of tuna and one box of pork and beans to further support the well-being of the 103 learners.

This interagency initiative was driven by the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC), chaired by Maria Loisella E. Lucino, CESO IV, Regional Director of DILG XIII. In her remarks, Lucino emphasized the program’s mission to address community-level issues by integrating efforts from national agencies down to grassroots communities. “There must be participation from the National Agencies down to the grassroot level ... in terms of security and safety,” Lucino remarked, highlighting the united approach to community development.

A representative of Governor Pimentel delivered his message, reiterating the long-standing commitment to fostering educational opportunities and sustainable development in IP communities. “From the beginning, we have ensured that no child is left behind in their needs and rights ... as we recover from poverty and conflict, education is pivotal.” the message stated.

Seventeen National Agencies—including DILG, DepEd, DSWD, DOH, PNP, DBM, DA, NCIP, TESDA, PNP, AFP, NEDA, DTI, DENR, DPWH, PIA, DOLE, and PhilHealth— actively participated by providing school supplies, consultations, and services. Their collective efforts not only catered to the learners but extended support to educators, parents, and the broader community of Sitio Simowao.

This outreach partnership program highlights a pivotal step toward resolving community challenges, emphasizing education, safety, and development as cornerstones of resilience and progress. The dedicated collaboration among agencies exemplifies their shared commitment to ensuring that every learner and family in marginalized areas can thrive.

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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