'Capacitating and Empowering Teachers' - Briones

The Department of Education (DepEd) celebrated the National Teachers' Day at Ormoc City Superdome.

DepEd Secretary Briones

Education Secretary Leonor M. Briones in her message assured the teachers of more opportunities for their personal and professional growth, for their welfare and financial management, for review and simplifying systems and processes, among others.

The Secretary with those opportunities the teachers are worthy to be educators whom the learners deserved to have.

“Because we recognize their fundamental role in educating the Filipino learners and carrying out our reforms at the grassroots, we are relentless in our desire to capacitate and empower our teachers,” said Briones in a DepEd Press Release.

Teachers' Day: Where Am I?

Teachers' Day is celebrated in our particular Division here in La Carlota City.

I miss this momentous event after I retired from the DepEd service as a teacher, school principal and educator. I have missed this wonderful opportunity to work with the DepEd as a "part of the department's innovations and improvement to enhance the quality of education to achieve globally competitive learners" too.

The Department of Education in the Philippines has a different way of celebrating this Teachers' Day. Every division in the country has its respective activities for their teachers. Whatever they are as long as they give appreciation, recognition and honor to the their teachers. It is indeed a big day for the teachers.

School stakeholders have prepared something for the teachers and the school children as well.

65 Percent of 2017 Enrolment Quick Count of Schools Garnered

Congratulations Region 1 and Region VI and NIR for they have made to the first, second and third in the participation rate of 2017 Enrolment Quick Count as of July 19, 2017, 6pm. Infographics shared by Mam Eda Fabale-Ponsaran, admin of Region VI and NIR LIS and EBEIS Help Desk.

Due to some glitches which the LIS website experienced, only 64.93 per cent of the regions have submitted their enrolment quick count as it closes today, July 19 at 6pm.

Region 1 with 84.46 percent submission rate is the first, followed by Region VI, 81.75 percent, and Negros Island Region (NIR) comes third with 73.77 percent.

So far, a total of 62,809 registered/official count of schools has been reached. 22,025 more schools are expected to complete the submission not later than the end of July 2017.

Facts and Functions of DepEd Enrolment Quick Count

The schools in Elementary and Secondary are required to participate in the Quick Count by the Department of Education to continue encoding and updating enrolment data for Beginning of School Year (BOSY 2017 - 2018).

This Enrolment Quick Count facility has inevitably created some issues and concerns which need to be addressed in due time. School heads and School System admins have found some problems in coming up with their respective EQCs. This post has emerged to address that particular problems. The blogger as a former school head and the admin of DepEd ICT coordinator Facebook Page has resorted to this initiative to help or assist persons concerned in any manner.

These would be the bases for the DepEd for their planning, budgeting, and the related task and welfare of the learners and the schools as well.

Individuals and Teams

Individuals and Teams (Day 47)

by Rey Laguda

(This is the 47th day of 50-day journey of DepEd Undersecretary Rey Laguda as being serialized here with his permission, culled from his Facebook account - Blogger/owner)

Working in the Department of Education is a real privilege and honor. One gets the opportunity to make a difference in a big way to millions of learners, hundreds of thousands of teachers, thousands of schools and communities, and to the whole country.

It is also a privilege because of the men and women I got to work with for the last six years. They include a mix of people who have served the Department for decades and those who joined only during our term. Both sets of employees contribute towards a shared vision. No task was too small or too big.

To all of you -- Everything that you gave borne out of genuine service was incredibly important and valuable. Each one of you brought a set of skills, knowledge, competencies and values to the organization. Combining all of these allowed us to achieve our goals, face challenges, overcome issues, and deliver results.

Unlocking Value for Schools through Budgets (Day 5)

Unlocking value for schools through Budgets (Day 5)

by Rey Laguda

(This is the DepEd USec Rey Laguda's Day 5 of 50-day journey being serialized here with his permission, culled from his Facebook account. - Blogger/owner)

Public schools are fully funded by the Department of Education for its basic requirements. But there is also support that schools get from local government units through the Special Education Fund (SEF) and through private donations from individuals and groups.

Capital Outlay for schools would normally include classrooms, furniture, water and sanitation facilities, science and math equipment, and computers among others. Learning materials are also provided on an annual basis. In addition to this, schools are also provided budgets which are used to cover Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE). These school budgets are based on a formula that was revised in 2013 to incorporate a fixed cost component and variable cost components based on enrollment, the number of teachers, classrooms, and graduating students to arrive at a total figure for the school. In total, education spending per capita increased from P8,816 to P19,753.

Going Online (Day 3)

Going Online (Day 3)

by Rey Laguda

(This is the DepEd USec Rey Laguda's Day 3 of 50-day journey being serialized here with his permission, culled from his Facebook account. - Blogger/owner)

Laguda

In 2010, social media was an important factor in the elections and the new administration intended to maximize the use of social media as a channel for effective mass communication and engagement. The Department of Education needed to take its communication and advocacy efforts to another level as well. Communication in a large organization with 700,000 employees spread over thousands of locations and with millions of external publics is a challenge. Traditionally, DepEd would communicate via traditional channels such as magazines and news dailies, interviews with tv, radio and print, and through events. A website was being maintained that was used mainly to post DepEd policy issuances. It was also funny that the website had such a busy look with so many organizational partner logos drowning out the DepEd brand.

Education USEC Rey Laguda's 50-Day Journey for a Graceful Exit

(The following accounts are culled from the Facebook account of USEC Rey Laguda with his due permission to this blogger to repost them here. These would be the series of DepEd activities in which he personally witnessed and in any way has contributed. - Blogger/owner)

I have 50 days until June 30 (51 days until July 1) in DepEd. It has been an unbelievable 6 years for me, my colleagues, and even for my family. I had joined government thinking of serving for only a year. I want to honor my time in government by sharing to the public what I feel we have accomplished or continue to pursue as part of the reforms in education and in the DepEd bureaucracy. I have always said that education reforms in DepEd are like teaching an elephant to dance...tinikling.

Laguda

So for the next 50 days, I will do daily posts of what the bureaucracy has done in the interest of transparency. This is a personal post and some of you may not agree with it. That's fine. That is one of the freedoms we have regained post-EDSA.

We are currently preparing transition reports and documents to hand over to the next administration and that will also be made public once it is done.

It has been a great privilege and honor to be on this journey towards a better nation. I believe that we cannot be great as a nation until we learn to be proud of our government (regardless of who sits as President). So I stand tall and I stand proud despite our imperfections and shortcomings as a public servant. The straight path isn't always the shortest and it isn't always the easiest. It is the best path nonetheless.

Teacher's Salary Hike First Tranche Approved

More than 370,000 public school teachers in elementary and in the secondary would be enjoying the salary hike which its first tranche may be effected in the first quarter of this year as PNoy has already signed the Executive Order No. 201, s. 2016 to implement this increase in four installments upon returning from working trip in the US.

President Benigno Aquino III after attending the ASEAN-US Summit and meeting with US business leaders signed Executive Order to implement the increase of government employees to include the teachers of the Department of Education and the controversial military and PNP pensioner's hike.

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recommended the issuance of an EO following Congress’ failure to approve the proposed Salary Standardization Law (SSL) IV before they adjourn session for the election campaign.

The bicameral conference committee was in an apparent impasse over the indexation provision that would cover the pension of military and uniformed personnel retirees.

DepEd Lauds LDS Family Week Celebration

La Carlota Department of Education (DepEd) represented by its schools division superintendent who was among the honored guests lauded the Church program on family in a culmination program held at its local Church meetinghouse.

SDS Mallorca

La Carlota Philippines District of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has culminated its own unique activities of National Week Celebration after having a selected Family Home Evening (FHE) in the barangay, in the school.

The city of La Carlota through its acting city mayor, VM Jacky Jalandoni attended the morning program of the Church culmination activity with other invited guests from government's Pantawid Pampamilya Program of the marginalized members of the society and also from the Philippine Anti-Children's Trafficking (PACT).

"Gender Equality and Children's Right for the Contemporary Filipino Families" is this year's theme for the National Family Week celebration.

DepED Online Application System FAQs

Recently the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) has introduced online application for those Education graduates to apply for teacheer online through the online application system.

And this system is being adopted for the school year 2015-2016. It could be accessed in application.deped.gov.ph.

Teacher-applicants found this facility a bit inconvenient for them, not only they're new to this system but due to the technical problem which this facility may cause. Some of them as of this post haven't been receiving their email confirmation and unique application number (UAN).

This blogger as one of the school head concerned for these teacher-applicants has posted this information, especially to assist them for the possible problems that they usually encounter.

DepEd Sec. Luistro: Education Opens Opportunity

Education develops skills for everyone to move forward, to attain his purpose and to realize his ambitions or dreams in life. Education cements a foundation for him to be a better Filipino who is "mindful of diversity that is grounded on acceptance, tolerance, and peace."

Luistro

This is how Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro would be addressing the graduates of 2015 in a statement issued recently.

"Saktong Buhay: Sa De-kalidad na Edukasyon Pinanday", this year's graduation theme, according to Luistro, should be inculcated. Thus, it couldn't be forgotten where the foundations of everyone's dreams is built upon and this is where education is needed for it is important. He stressed that education unlocks the doors of opportunities, makes possible in achieving a dignified and productive life for everybody.

There is always a challenge even trials ahead for life is filled with victories and defeats, triumphs for inspiration, losses for motivation to excellence, and gratefulness for those who give their help to those in need.

The experiences of those fallen and living heroes like the soldiers and teachers are success stories of perseverance brought  by education as provided for their families to have a dignity.

Therefore in this momentous day like Graduation Day is like a testament of their collective efforts as a product of their hard work and perseverance, a manifestation of competence, compassion and a zeal for excellence.

Why TDA Has Permanently Blocked Me?

This is an exclusive chat with Mr. Christoper Duro (Topet Duro) one of the admins of TDA sometime in October 19 and 20, 2014 in the afternoon.

TDA Admin

I want to make this public on how I regard Taga-DepEd Ako (TDA) created by Christopher "Topet" Duro. And in turn I want to know why this closed group has permanently blocked me in spite of my reentry which Topet Duro had caused it.

I want to let the public may know especially TDA on how I treated them.

Our series of chats started on October 19 when I posted my blog on the TDA T-shirt controversy in my RandomThoughts. This issue prompted me as a school principal to ask on its manner of procurement, teacher-clients. I was expecting a good explanation, but  instead I received a negative reactions from the TDA members who belittled in the FB. And the last chats we had had was on the following day, October 20.

Voices from Modern Wilderness

Generally speaking, teachers have considered themselves as low-salaried government employees as compared to other government agencies. In that reality, they have wanted to have a reasonable remuneration to their copious job, discounting the danger, the hazards that they're facing from day-in to day-out in line of their duties.

Some concerned teachers have manifested their true sentiments on this dismal scenario of their present situation when Sir Yves D. Miclat posted a reminder on what to keep track during the PH President's state of the nation address (SONA) comes Monday afternoon.

Therefore, I was a bit the center of the discussion in TAGA-DEPED AKO, a closed group page in the Facebook. I was totally misunderstood and misconstrued of my point of view by the members of the said group. It seemed that they regarded the situation personally, and to the extent of dragging me unprofessionally.

PH School Calendar for SY 2014-2015

It is already more than a decade since Brigada Eskwela has been institutionalized to prepare the school, especially the classroom for a regular opening of classes. This kind of annual school maintenance participated in by the different stakeholders of the school has proven to be effective.

Therefore, the school is ready for the opening classes in school year 2014-2015. For everybody's information, PH Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro issued DepEd Oder No. 18, s. 2014, dated March 28, 2014 on the school calendar for school year 2014-2015.

This Order covers the core events and activities of all schools, both public and private elementary and secondary as far as education is concerned.

The official opening of regular classes will start on the first Monday of June, 2014, that is, June 2. And the closing of classes will be on March 27, 2014.

PH Teachers To Enjoy More GSIS Benefits

After their delinquent Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) monthly contributions be written off, the PH teachers, who are active and retired will enjoy more monetary benefits from GSIS as disclosed  by GSIS President and General Manager Robert Vergara.

DBM, GSIS, DepED, government agencies

This laudable gesture of the PH government states that P14 billion interest charges from more than P6 billion for GSIS unpaid of teachers' contributions as government share in the past 13 years will be condoned by the GSIS in a recent "historic agreement."

The three government agencies like the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the GSIS, and the DepED  were respectively represented by Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Education Secretary Armin Luistro and GSIS president and general manager Robert Vergara signed this agreement in Malacañang in the presence of President NoyNoy Aquino.

This memorable event took place as a part of the celebration of National Teachers' month which has kicked off September 5 to October 5, 2012.

Teachers League Officers: Tapestry of Leaders

The new set of District II Teachers' League Officers for school year 2012-2013 were figuratively described by their inducting officer as "tapestry of leaders" for they're expected to be a "good weaver" in their recent induction rites.

"Why are you here?" "Why are you inducted (to office)?" asked OIC-SDS Portia M. Mallorca who is a "resume' of a true leader" as the emcee, Frances Marie P. Servicio addressed her.

Mallorca

Mallorca inspired this new set of elected officers in her message. She regarded them as a "tapestry" of leaders for they're "good weaver" to achieve their common goal for their organization.

Thus, everyone as a "good weaver" must be working together harmoniously and collaboratively for  one mission, one vision, though they've different strategy.

"It is an opportunity for being the officer to show your best," said Mallorca.

"Be the best of a person. There's a time that you can't be awarded, but you can be a good leader," she urged.

APPES: 'Who's Going to Bell the Cat?'

(This is a SYNTHESIS I delivered as my impression of 2-day Seminar on Accreditation Program for Public Elementary Schools (APPES) conducted by the Division of La Carlota Training Team headed by Miss Gloria Tionsay, ES 1, Dec.15-16,2008 at the Division Conference Hall)

Bell

We are no longer innocent of our specific job as a school head as far as accreditation is concerned. For this 2-day APPES seminar, much has been given and much has been done. And there is no turning back as a matter of commitment.

We have been guided at the right path where to tread in improving school effectiveness. And this is the common denominator of school-based management and accreditation for public elementary school.

PH Public School Teachers To Receive Php35T

The Philippine public school teachers are all excited to receive an almost 100% hike from their present salary when a salary increase measure will be enacted into law and implemented.

Salary Increase

A bill proposing for 93% increase of the 500,000 public school teachers is filed by Senator Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV.

A gross salary of P35,567 will be received by the teachers in lieu of their present salary of P18,549, that is, from salary grade of 11 to salary grade of 20.

Senator Trillanes qualified that this is in line with the 4th tranche of the implementation of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL).

'Sorry na Lang' To Teachers with Un-updated GSIS Records

"Sorry na lang" to those who failed to update their GSIS records said House Assistant Majority Leader and Davao City Representative Karlo Nograles in a hearing in the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability recently.

The news said that the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) contributions of some 198,000 teachers and other Department of Education (DepED) employees are in danger.

This was known after a hearing in the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability was conducted to investigate the alleged massive irregularities in the GSIS as prompted by Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE) party-list Representative Eulogio Magsaysay.