Fading wail
One good thing we can be happy for our country is that we are the home of some endangered species in the world.
separate gold from Gold To silver and dirt, a solucalled Nitric Acid is Process tion mixed.
T MANA “The Sound of Truth and Change”
SPECIAL REPORT
ComVal is one of RP’s Best
Department of Interior and Local Government commended Arturo T. Uy, Provincial Governor for his dedication in improving public service to Comvaleños on the highest level of standards making ComVal as one of the best provinces in the country during the conduct of Annual Local Governance Performance Management System, a web based measuring the performance of the Local Government Unit on September 5. With excellent rating of 95.5% in the implementation of Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, ComVal earned admirable feedback. It has also been a top performer in the revenue collection and responded to social needs of the people. G o v e r n o r A r t u r o T. U y attributed its victory to the unified efforts of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and full workforce of the provincial government. / MA. CHRISTINE JOY DIMCO
Gawad Kalinga houses constructed
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ECH VOL. XVII, NO. 1 • MEMBER: NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS ASSOCIATION JUNE - DECEMBER 2011 • MANAT, NABUNTURAN, COMPOSTELA VALLEY
Empowering Youth
Parents favour K to 12 Program
Though K to 12 Program earned various reactions from different sectors, majority of the parents in Manat National High School expressed optimism to this program which is implemented this year. Survey made by Manat Echo Staff revealed that 18 out of thirty parent-respondents that is 60% supported K to 12 believing that this program would equip young individuals with strong foundation of skills on which to pursue higher education. Ritchell E. Cruz, Principal III said it will surely help less fortunate children to be employed because after their basic education, they are equipped with technical-vocational
Support Mineral Management Bill-Hontiveros
A K B A YA N P a r t y l i s t Representative urged local people of Nabunturan to support Mineral Management bill because it protects the environment and mitigates the impact of climate change. Hon. Risa HontiverosBaraquel told people gathered for the celebration of 54th Araw ng Nabunturan held at Nabunturan Municipal Hall, Nabunturan Compostela Valley on July 23, that bill is an effective tool in promoting excellent regulation on small scale and medium scale community based and traditional mining. She added that by adopting sustainable, rational, needs based minerals management; this will gear the country towards effective utilization of mineral resources for national industrialization and modernization of agriculture. “This empowers indigenous people to decide whether or not mining corporations can proceed to their areas”, said Hontiveros. She believed that MMB would restore operations to local government units and communities especially the indigenous people whose ancestral domain are the site of most mining transactions and receive a just share of revenues should they grant permission. While minerals are essential resources for national development and important of economy,
skills for them to be employed if they cannot afford to finish a degree course. A parent when asked why she supported K to 12 said that it is the answer of unemployment in the country since a graduate in this program is already provided with tools for an industry-recognized credential for employment. Considering the difficulty of sending children to college in this time, another parent expressed
enthusiasm to this program because he believed that in this way his child could competently compete with the task in employment. A mother admitted that the financial burden for additional years in High School is no joke since she has three children, yet if this is the way she could lead her children to land a good job in the future then she will support K to 12. But for a fish vendor who has five children to send to school, he
opposed this program because it only adds burden to common Filipino who hardly eat enough food three times a day. K to 12 was initiated to address the poor quality basic education in the country. National Achievement Tests for the past five years reflected low achievement scores of Filipino students which attributed to inadequacy of instructional time or time on task. / EMMALOU DISMAS
Bringing education to unreached and underserved
Extension campus opens in Cabidianan Believing that it is government’s responsibility to provide education to all schoolage youth especially to school less barangays, the Barangay Council of Cabidianan, Nabunturan Compostela Valley decided to establish a secondary school pursuant to resolution no.3, series of 2011 on March at Cabidianan, Nabunturan, ComVal. 68 first batch of First year students was enrolled in the School Year 2011-2012 on June. Temporarily, they made use two
vacant classrooms of Cabidianan Elementary School. In this impoverished country where education is seen as a solution, Jaizel Olaguir, First Year said that she could only help her parents someday if she could finish studies. She expressed her delight to the people behind this endeavour saying that they are lucky to have school in their place. Having a school in Cabidianan has helped parents from the inconveniences of sending their
STEADFAST. Representative Risa Hontiveros of AKBAYAN Partylist promotesreformsinminingthroughupholdingMineralManagementBill.Hontiveros raises public outlook on the importance of conservation of minerals resources.
Hontiveros underscored that the extraction of these minerals must be done judiciously because mineral areas are part and parcel of ecosystems. Diwalwal in Compostela Valley is the site where large scale mining corporations rule. If passed, Mineral Management Bill would repeal the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. / Divine Burlas and Peter John Llena
EMPOWERED. Graduates of K to 12 Program gears towards producing productive and responsible citizens. K to 12 equips students with essential skills and competencies for both life-long learning and employment.
ACCESS. Students in Cabidianan HS get opportunity of schooling as
education is brought to their community. Parents consider it as a chance for their children to finish studies.
children to school away from their homes considering the budget of transportation and food. Martin Baba Jr., a parent shared that the school gave opportunities to out of school youth and fresh graduates a chance of schooling. Provincial Government Office headed by Arturo T. Uy, Governor, Local Government Unit, and Congressional Office in partnership with the FilipinoChinese Chamber of Commerce guaranteed to support for the construction of the school building and other needs like; supplemental budget for teachers’ salary, books and among other facilities. At present, PGO has supplied chairs to the students. Cabidianan extension campus of Manat NHS has been serving students in nearby barangays namely; Antequera, Sta. Maria, San Vicente, and Pangutusan, Nabunturan, ComVal. Currently, construction of the school building, which amounts 350,000Php is ongoing at the one hectare site reserved for school purposes at Cabidianan Elementary School. It is expected to finish on the first quarter of 2012. CHS has two teachers who are locally paid namely; April Jane R. Rama and Caryl Jane D. Ferniz. / KIMBERLY NARVASA
