SirNaHigh affirms to DepEd’s MATATAG

ROMELYN GOZANES

G12 News Contributor

To be able to save the education system in the Philippines from worsening due to the pandemic, the DepEd, through the leadership of its secretary Sarah Duterte, launched the MATATAG: Bansang Makabata, Bansang Makabansa program to resolve the county's basic education woes.

"As a student, I would honestly say that this program is a good call for our ailing education. With its promising downfall, I hope that we students could really benefit from it because we want to graduate ready enough", said grade eleven student, Christian Macaso.

5 dead, 2 wounded in Sirawai ambush

G12 News Writer

A barangay chairman of Balubuan, Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte was shot dead during the abrupt ambush on January 26.

The Brgy captain was with his siblings, Ani and Alfahad, and his relatives, namely Anisa Jaji Manangca and Shilben Musaddin Basa who were also reported dead. The victims were all in a black Toyota Hilux service when ambushers mercilessly shot them at an opened-fire highway.

The two others onboard the vehicle who were able to run were wounded and rushed to the municipality's rural health unit. They were identified as Alwaf Basa Manangca and Norman Darus Tulino.

According to the report of provincial police director Col. Glen Dulawan, the target of the assailants, was Captain Manangca. He further said that the other two victims sustained gunshot wounds in various areas of their bodies before escaping in safe directions from where the incident occurred.

"What we can do now as students is to remain vigilant. We will go home directly after classes so that no one will get harmed", Norhan Karil, a grade eleven student, shared.

It was the first brutal one in the municipality of Sirawai that made its residents feel unsafe and frightened, said Janihim.

In line with the program, the curriculum will also be revised to produce competent, jobready, and responsible citizens. Furthermore, the said program also aims to prioritize the learners' well-being through inclusive education and the fastest acceleration of the delivery of quality education, including providing teachers with assistance and enough support from the government.

Secretary Sarah further emphasized that if the government, specifically the authorities in the education sector would continuously practice their 'bahala na' mantra habit, Filipino learners would struggle even more.

"We are with VP Sarah in SirNaHigh on being hopeful that with the MATATAG program, the system in education will be resolved little by little”, Macaso shared.

Janihim takes seat as new mayor

CZHEKH AHMEYR ISMAEL G12 News Contributor orderly town and fulfilling the needs of his people are among his priorities to accomplish during his administration.

After winning landslide in the 2022 elections, Aljazar A. Janihim took his seat as the newly elected mayor of the municipality of Sirawai, May 9, 2022. Janihim, under the Philippine Democratic Party-People’s Power (PDP-Laban), earned 11, 066 total votes from Sirawainons, while his opponent Ontong Amador, who was under the National Party, garnered 3, 064 votes.

"Alhamdullah! I am beyond grateful for the full support given to me by my constituents during the election", Janihim shared. During the interview, he said that progressing Sirawai towards becoming an

Over 150 families rescued Sirawai experiences flood

"I am also envisioning a peaceful hometown to live in," he added.

Mayor Janihim is a graduate of a BS in Criminology, and he is the son of the former mayor of the said municipality, Gamar A. Janihim.

On the other hand, Darquez Pahambong, the re-elected vice mayor, won with a total vote of 10,083 beating Nolidia Inding, who had only 3,544 votes.

The new mayor, along with his members who won, took the oath of office at the municipality of Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte, last May 19.

Nat'l Women's Day promotes gender equality in Sirawai

JEAN MAY LABIAL G12 News Writer

To empower women and to promote gender equality, Sirawai celebrated this year’s National Women’s Day with the theme, "We for Gender Equality and an Inclusive Society", March 14.

The event kicked off with a colorful parade around the town. The municipal mayor, Hon. Aljazar Janihim, led the participation in the event along with the heads of the different schools of Sirawai District and other agencies such as the Sirawai MPS, headed by the Chief of Police, Maj. Ronald Alan Tingas, and the BFP Fire Marshals, led by SPO4 John Dominic Gregorio. Also, barangay captains took part in the event.

The search for Mrs. Sirawai was the highlight of the celebration won by Sheila Mae L. Espejo from barangay Proper. She competed against six lovely candidates from the six metro barangays of the municipality.

"As a woman, it was such an amazing experience for me to be able to participate again in this event after pandemic. I have seen all the participating agencies very enthusiastic, from the parade up to the presentation of their respective performances", said Mrs. Vilma Silvestre, a resident of brgy. San Vicente.

Bannering the theme that focuses on gender equality and inclusivity, women all over the world had what it took to be weighed equally as to men and thus, never again victims of understatement and violence.

JULAMRIE UNDING G12 News Writer

A total of over 150 Sirawainon families were rescued and ordered to evacuate at the municipality gymnasium during the surge of the typhoon on January 11.

According to LGU, the evacuees were safe, and there were no reported cases of injured or dead residents.

Moreover, the Administrative Aide III, Jun B. Padduman, said during the interview that with the help of the MDRRMO and BFP, they were able to continue rescuing the affected residents. They started the rescue at around 10:00 a.m. and stopped at exactly 7:00 p.m.

On the other hand, the said calamity brought massive destruction to the Sirawai National High School and to the different schools in the municipality.

Through the Rapid Assessment of Damage Report (RADAR) of the DRRM Coordinator, Mr. Ronald Montiomor, the SirNaHigh had estimated damages of P120, 000, which included chairs, tables, textbooks, modules, electronic devices, and printers.

"It was exactly 11:30 in the morning when the flood came while I was at home." "Unexpectedly, the water abruptly increased in height, which made us panic with my children," said a 36-yearold vendor named Mrs. Toma Adelaida.

She also added that she suffered from being empty after her store was devastated.

NEWS BITS

ZN welcomes new SDS

The Division of Zamboanga del Norte welcomed new Schools Division Superintendent, Roy C. Tuballa, April 3. Tuballa was a former SDS of Zamboanga City Division.

With his vision for ZN, he urged division employees to follow his empowering mantra, "Sobrang galing: Norte! MATATAG: sa katawan, puso at isipan-posible na ang imposible!"

4 SirNaHigh teacher-researchers join Div. Research Congress

Four teachers from SirNaHigh joined the 6th Division Research Congress last December 3–4 at the Mibang Hotel in Dipolog City.

Presenters were Ms. Dea Novieann T. Oliveros, Mr. Alpen A. Caoile, Mr. Joseph M. Fernandez, and Mr. Jemson B. Revelo.

The said event was attended by researchers from the different schools from the Division of Zamboanga del Norte with the aim of upgrading the teachers’ competence in research work.

The team members were grateful to the school for allowing them to present their studies.

P55,000 fund allotted for Teen Center

A total of fifty-five thousand pesos was allotted for the completion of the first ever teen center in SirNaHigh last September 9.

This was made possible with the help of stakeholders and the mayor of Sirawai. The said project is multipurpose and can be used for film viewing. It also accessed support for at-risk students and helped them meet their health needs through consultations.

The center was recently evaluated by division personnel and passed the set criteria.