DepEd airs support for autonomy in curriculum

By Georaloy I. Palao-ay

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - The Department of Education – Cordillera is throwing its support to the call for regional autonomy.

         As part of its commitment and participation to the 29^th founding anniversary of the Cordillera Region, the department urged all public and private schools to integrate in all their subjects and other activities core messages and salient points of regional autonomy.

Regional Director Beatriz G. Torno reiterated that schools or division offices can hold contests like writing, poster making, and other similar undertakings which advocate the call for autonomy.

“Schools can even include in their meetings or conferences with parents and community members an advocacy on regional autonomy which is already one way of reaching the grassroots level,” Torno said.

The director added that schools are perfect venues to promote and create awareness among learners as well as other stakeholders about the clamor for autonomy not only for this month’s celebration but all year round.

Torno, who hails from Mexico, Pampanga, revealed that she immediately saw the uniqueness and richness of the region when she assumed office just last month.

“Cordillera presents its uniqueness in all aspects as also shown for its adherence to the Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) which makes K to 12 here very distinct from other regions; through the proposed autonomy, this uniqueness will be further enhanced,” said Torno.

The IPEd crafted by DepEd CAR adheres to the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act and other laws which recognizes the importance and effectivity of indigenous cultural knowledge and practices. IPEd also infuses the rights of indigenous people to self-determination.

She also expressed that through autonomy, the region can manage its own resources and funds which leads to more school buildings and facilities to be built and done without delays or constraints.

Most programs of DepEd as well as other line agencies are planned and prescribed by central offices and this often conforms to planning, budgeting, and technical designing by the national offices. These results to projects reverted due to budget deficiency and substandard facilities and equipment since the very unique mountainous and semi-temperate environment of the Cordillera were not considered beforehand.

From 2014 to 2015, DepEd CAR in partnership with the Regional Development Council (RDC) through its secretariat the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), held orientations or Information, Education, Communication (IEC) campaigns in all the school divisions. 

According to DepEd CAR Legal Officer Vannessa B. Flora, erstwhile speaker for said IECs, the series of orientations two years ago aimed to substantially enhance the awareness and understanding of the public school teachers, principals, and supervisors on the region’s pursuit of its autonomy.     

        “Our teachers, without doubt, are the frontliners of information dissemination and it was but appropriate that they should be equipped with the necessary information to deliver to their stakeholders,” expressed Flora.

With the establishment of its own public affairs and legal affairs units, DepEd CAR welcomed another partnership with RDC-NEDA for similar activities.