VM RELLON COMMENDS GRADUATES AND STUDENT LEADERS

By: JALMAIDA L. JAMIRI, MPA

For the past years, since the start of his stint as City Vice Mayor, the Honorable Allan Rellon has always been steadfast in his programs especially those that support the thrust of the City Government of Tagum pertaining to Education.

One of the programs that have been consistently carried out by his office for these past years is his Sponsorship of Medals given in time for the Commencement, Recognition and Graduation Exercises of a number of public and private educational institutions in the City of Tagum.

For this year, Vice Mayor Rellon has sponsored a total of 1000 gold, silver and bronze medals which have benefited a total of 131 private and public learning institutions and schools. 405 of these medals were distributed to 81 Day Care Centers in the City for their Kinder 1 & Kinder 2 little graduates. 22 Private Preschools have also received a total of 120 medals for their preschool graduates as well. On the other hand, 16 LGU Assisted Preschool and 10 Public schools have also obtained 123 of these medals which have also been awarded to their pupils. During its recognition rites, 114 medals coming from Vice Mayor Rellon were awarded to the Madrasah (Islamic Schools) Graduates while 72 medals were also conferred during the Graduation Exercises of Alternative Learning System last May 16, 2009.

Vice Mayor Rellon, being the Sponsoring Vice Mayor, has awarded a total of 59 Office of the Vice Governor and Vice Mayors League of the Philippines – Davao del Norte Chapter Plaques of Leadership Excellence to Presidents of Student Body Organizations/Student Government Organizations of public elementary schools and public and private tertiary and secondary schools in the City of Tagum.

The partnership of the Office of the Vice Governor and Vice Mayors League of the Philippines – Davao del Norte Chapter which was the giving of Plaque of Leadership Excellence Award to Presidents of Student Body Organizations/Student Government Organizations of public and private tertiary and secondary schools in the Province of Davao del Norte, has been a successful collective undertaking for both offices for the past three years.

For this year - fourth year of its implementation, both offices continued this partnership and have now included student leaders of public elementary schools in the City of Tagum as among the recipients. A total of 134 deserving student-leader recipients from the entire Province of Davao del Norte have received this recognition for their meritorious and exemplary leadership role as president at young school age, thus, experienced the art of a presiding officer and a leader.

Giving recognition to students’ and pupils’ enthusiastic efforts, diligence, perseverance, determination and hard work in schooling is indeed an effective boost of morale for them to strive more and do even better…and in the long run…makes them productive individuals in the future.

KALINGA NG GOBERNADOR AT LIGA NG MGA BISE MAYOR NG DAVAO DEL NORTE

by: Jalmaida L. Jamiri, MPA

For the past two years, the partnership of the Office of Governor Rodolfo del Rosario and the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines Davao del Norte Chapter remains steadfast as more and more programs and activities are initiated and increasing numbers of constituents from the eleven Local Government Unit in the entire province of Davao del Norte are benefited on these numerous endeavors collaborated and spearheaded by the two offices under the Kalinga ng Gobernador at Liga ng mga Bise Mayor ng Davao del Norte Program. Brigada Eskwela 2009 did not just come and go without some form of support being proffered to the schools coming from the Kalinga ng Gobernador at Liga ng mga Bise Mayor ng Davao del Norte Program. For the City of Tagum, Vice Mayor Allan Rellon ensures that these supports are actually received by the intended beneficiaries.

GALLONS OF PAINTS FOR SCHOOLS

During the FPTCA Meeting on May 12, 2009, not only did the 38 public schools in the City receive school supplies for their indigent pupils, but they also brought with them at least a gallon of top brand white latex and/or enamel paint. Budget of which was sourced out from the Office of Governor del Rosario under the Aid to VMLP Program. 52 gallons of paints were turned over by Governor Rodolfo del Rosario himself assisted by Vice Mayor Allan Rellon and the public officials present, for the beautification and maintenance of schools during the weeklong Brigada Eskwela. On his message, Governor del Rosario expressed his pleasure that VMLP was able to initiate this endeavor for the Kalinga ng Gobernador at Liga ng mga Bise Mayor ng Davao del Norte Program and told the rest of those present that he is glad to be a partner of the schools in this common endeavor, the Brigada Eskwela 2009 for that matter. He further assured the school administrators that this will not be the last time that a support will be given from his office and VMLP. The governor stayed until the end of the meeting and principals and administrators were indeed given the chance to talk to him personally and discuss several issues concerning them.

CLASS RECORDS AND LESSON PLAN FOR TEACHERS

If the indigent pupils have their school supplies and the schools have paints for their beautification and maintenance, our beloved teachers are not forgotten for they too have something from the Kalinga ng Gobernador at Liga ng mga Bise Mayor ng Davao del Norte Program. Class Records and Lesson Plans were distributed to all public elementary and secondary school teachers in the entire province of Davao del Norte. For the City of Tagum, Vice Mayor Allan Rellon himself went to the 38 public schools and turned over bulks of lesson plans and class records intended for the teaching force of each school. Even teachers of Public Preschools and Day Care Centers also received the same items. There is a total of 1, 178 public school teachers and 82 Day Care Center Teachers who all received a piece of Class Record and Lesson Plan. The items may not cause much but words of thanks and appreciations coming from the teachers were enough to conclude that it’s not the cost that counts but rather the fact that they were remembered.

VOLUNTARY MANUAL LABOR

Aside from the school supplies, paints, class records and lesson plans that were distributed, Vice Mayor Allan Rellon also spearheaded in organizing groups of volunteers coming from the Army Reservists of 1102 Community Defense Center and BSP Rover Scouts of Tagum City who actually perform manual labor during the duration of Brigada Eskwela on May 18-23, 2009 in several schools in the City.

Army Reservists Vice Mayor Allan Rellon, being the Battalion Commander of 1102 Community Defense Center, 1^st (DAV) Ready Reserve Battalion, 11^th Regional Community Defense Group of Army Reserve Command of Philippine Army, organized and led the 40 uniformed army reservists who, in the spirit of volunteerism, got actively involved in the weeklong Brigada Eskwela by helping in various maintenance works in several schools such as repainting of classroom walls, roofs, benches, and hall stage; repair of broken furniture and armchairs; cutting stubborn grasses; construction of pavements, among others.

Even the Group Commander of 11^th RCDG, COL FLORANTE O ISLES INF (GSC) PA shared in the same intention and joined the group throughout the entire duration of voluntary work and claimed and performed his share of workloads side by side with CAPT ALLAN RELLON. Together with City Councilor and ABC President Alfredo R. Pagdilao, COL ISLES assisted Vice Mayor Allan Rellon in the distribution of school supplies to indigent pupils in Rizal I Elementary School. The sight of army reservists working together with civilians for a common goal is something new that our schools can now look forward to for the Brigada Eskwela in the coming years. It will also be a good avenue to change the negative impressions of civilians towards military men who are usually associated with war and danger. The volunteer army reservists of 1102 CDC were not able to go through the entire week of Brigada Eskwela since their assistance were requested to help in the control of the crowd and retrieval of victims of the landslide in Pantukan, Compostela Valley on May 19, 2009.

BSP ROVER SCOUTS

Being the 1^st Council Vice Chairman of the BSP Tagum City Associate Council, Vice Mayor Rellon initiated the organization of Rover Scouts to make an active participation in the Brigada Eskwela 2009. He called for a coordinative meeting to all Rover Scouts on May 5, 2009 at SP Session Hall to orient them on their participation in the upcoming event. Team leaders were delegated and school assignments were identified as well as the tasks that would be performed on these schools. Vice Mayor reiterated once again, that being scouts are not just about wearing their uniforms and participating in jamborees or camps but rather it is about going out to the community and living out the spirit of volunteerism….making an active participation on a common endeavor for the good of the general public.

There were a total of 65 Rover Scouts who were scattered in nine schools in the city and helped out in various school maintenance works such as painting of fences, trimming of grasses, cleaning the classrooms, among others. Some of the scouts did not only volunteer in one school but in several schools as well…so much for the spirit of volunteerism. Brigada Eskwela is not just about preparing the schools for the opening of classes in June but it also unites the community to share and give out something for a common purpose… for the betterment of our students. It provides an avenue for the community to carry out and live out their social responsibility and as such become an active partner in the development of the community. With the Brigada Eskwela, it once again upheld the spirit of Bayanihan… which we Filipinoes are known for…setting a good example before the eyes of the new generation.

VICE MAYOR RELLON FULL SWING SUPPORT TO BRIGADA ESKWELA

by: Jalmaida L. Jamiri, MPA

Being an educator himself, the unmitigated support of Vice Mayor Rellon to the education sector could not be questioned nor debated. The City Vice Mayor has always been consistent in providing assistance or backing up, in his capacity, endeavors initiated for the development and welfare of our students and advancement of the education system in the locality, in general.

The recently concluded Brigada Eskwela 2009, an annual nationwide endeavor organized by the Department of Education in preparation for the opening of classes in June, which was conducted from May 18-23, 2009 has not gone without Vice Mayor Rellon interjecting an act of support to the schools in the City of Tagum. Even before the requests for support from various schools reached the table of the City Vice Mayor, he has already allocated a portion of his SRA MBN Allocation and has planned out initiatives to lend a hand prior, during and after the conduct of Brigada Eskwela in the 38 public schools in the city.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR INDIGENT PUPILS

Considering the financial crisis that the world is facing today, which so affects even those who are abundant in life… the daily struggle of our less fortunate constituents to keep abreast on the demands of their daily needs would indeed be considerable. As such, a total of Php 108, 113.10 from the Vice Mayor’s SRA MBN Allocation were spent to procure school supplies for the indigent pupils in the entire City of Tagum. A total of 2, 085 indigent pupils were able to avail of these free school supplies given in various occasions.

IDENTIFIED BY SCHOOLS

Last May 12, 2009, in preparation for the upcoming Brigada Eskwela 2009, the Regular Monthly Meeting of the Federation of Parents Teachers Association held at DepEd Conference Hall, Energy Park, Tagum City embarked upon the preparations to be made of every school for the Brigada Eskwela 2009. The said meeting was attended by school administrators and principals, PTA Officials, Barangay Officials, Brigada Eskwela Coordinators and various stakeholders for the upcoming activity.
In line with the “Tabang Eskwela Project of Vice Mayor Allan Rellon”, a total of 1, 455 sets of school supplies were distributed to 31 public elementary schools and 7 public secondary schools in the City of Tagum. Recipients of these supplies were pupils from all grade and year levels identified as indigent by the school administrators. School Administrators, PTA Officers and Brgy. Officials were beaming with smile as they received the school supplies being turned over to them by the Vice Mayor himself together with no less than the Provincial Governor Rodolfo del Rosario and City Councilors Maria Lina F. Buara, Raymond Joey D. Millan, Reynaldo Salve and Francisco Remitar, also gracing the said occasion.

In behalf of the PTCA officials and school administrators, Engr. Gilbert S. Mambulao, FPTCA President, was most gracious as he extended his warmest thanks and appreciation to the Elected Officials for being present in the meeting and for the assistance given to the schools.

These supplies were augmented with the school supplies being sponsored by the City Councilors were was also distributed on the same occasion.

WALK-IN INDIGENT PUPILS

The distribution of free school supplies did not just end on what was distributed during the PTA meeting. As the start of classes was approaching, walk in indigent pupils coming from the different puroks in the City, accompanied by parents or just by themselves, marched and walked up the stairs of the SP Building, even during weekends, with anticipation that they would be carrying notebooks or papers or ball pens when they go down the building.
Some were still panting and obviously were from a days hardwork when they entered the office of the City Vice Mayor. Anticipating this scenario, the City Vice Mayor prepared for this wave of constituents and indeed, was able to distribute supplies to a total of 355 walk in indigent pupils. The school supplies being distributed may just be minimal but the smile and gratitude seen in the eyes of these pupils and on some parents were priceless as they say their words of thanks especially to the City Vice Mayor upon receiving the items.

SULONG DUNONG SCHOLARS

A total of 72 packs were also distributed by the City Vice Mayor to his Sulong Dunong Scholars. Sulong Dunong Scholars are pupils from elementary and secondary schools coming from the 23 barangays of Tagum City who are identified as indigent by the Barangay Officials and deemed qualified to be sent to school and whose school expenses are shouldered by the Office of the City Vice Mayor through its SRA-MBN Allocation - Sulong Dunong Scholarship Program.

These Sulong Dunong Scholars also receive counseling and tutorial from the Office of the City Vice Mayor to further help them advance in their schooling. In return, some scholars allocate several hours of voluntary service to help out on some office programs and activities and even in office operations.


ASSISTANCE TO VARIOUS SECTOR

School supplies were also distributed to a total of 203 recipients when several Barangay Officials and Community Leaders sought the Office of the City Vice Mayor to be a partner and/or sponsor on their activities in their respective communities or sectors.

These recipients include the 39 Iskolar ng Barangay of Brgy. La Filipina, 50 pupils of Brgy. San Isidro, and 61 Madrasah pupils in Prk. Masagana, Brgy. Magugpo West. 20 participants of Seminar Workshop for Customary Law and Mansaka Dictionary Data Gathering and Reproduction and and 33 participants Parish Leadership Seminar-Workshop were also able to avail of these free supplies.

To widen the scope of assistance that could be provided and extended to the schools in the City during the Brigada Eskwela, the City Vice Mayor together with several offices and groups joined hands for a more active participation during the Brigada Eskwela.