Category Archives: News Feature

K to 12 in San Pablo: A look into the pilot’s first quarter

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by Ralph Lester C. Bañaga, Maria Celina A. Bernardo, Em S. Mandanas, Roman A. Moreno, Adrianne G. San Miguel, Paolo Emmanuel B. Torres, and Jamille Rachel G. Villeno

June 4, 2012 marked the first day of implementation of the K to 12 Program in the country. Three months into the pilot implementation and it comes as no surprise that the new program is received with mixed reactions from the school administrators, teachers, and parents.

Mrs. Jacqueline Villeno, the principal of Nino Jesus Science Oriented Montessori School explained that the K to 12 Program has only been implemented in the Philippines for a few months. According to Mrs. Villeno, different reactions are to be expected from all those involved and affected by the new curriculum.

While students like Jolyn Bernadette F. Antonio, Ma. Loricka A. Castillo, and Francis G. Beron  are aware that the K to 12 curriculum will offer more advanced lessons leading to better quality of education, they also know the  added cost of the new curriculum, the usual reason for the parents’ disfavor for the K to 12 Program.

On March 23, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin A. Luistro passed DepEd Order No. 31 to all schools and offices of DepEd stating the implementation of Grade 1 to 12 Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) in the Philippines.

Prior to the implementation of K to 12 in the Philippines, there were only three countries in the world that have a ten-year education program namely the Philippines, Nepal, and Mongolia. Nepal still implements the ten-year educational system while Mongolia has recently shifted to a 12-year curriculum.

All stakeholders are coping with the changes brought about by the implementation of the K to 12 Program. For school administrators, teachers, and parents, it’s a period of adjustment.

Mrs. Helen Ramos, a DepEd San Pablo science teacher, agrees that using the mother tongue allows students to express themselves better in class, facilitating better learning. While the use of the mother tongue has its advantages, it becomes a challenge when dealing with technical terms. Ms. Arlene G. Brion, an English teacher in San Pablo Central School, explained that there may be difficulty in understanding the teaching materials especially when students have to be well versed with their mother tongue and English.

The readiness of teachers for the new curriculum is a critical factor to the effective implementation of the K to 12 Program. According to Ms. Brion, the public school teachers underwent a training for the K to 12 curriculum in May in preparation for the June implementation of K to 12.

The school materials provided for the K to 12 curriculum is also the cause of some concerns. Ms. Brion said that the materials that arrived during the last week of June are not enough for the students enrolled this school year.

Despite of the difficulties in adjusting to the new curriculum, the teachers continue to try their best to be at pace with their students. As Ms. Brion said “we have to find ways for the students to learn from us.”

Teachers, like Ms. Arlene G. Brion of San Pablo Central Elementary School, take it as part of their duty to ensure that learning takes place under the new curriculum despite of the limitations that they encounter.

Among parents, the cost of the additional two years in basic education means added expenses for their children’s education. Mrs. Fe Ann O. Arago, parent of an elementary student, explained that since she is the only one working for her family, they would really need to tighten their budget.

For parents, like Mrs. Amelita B. Cruz and Mrs. Lucita G. Reyes, the additional years in education translates to additional costs.

Mrs. Amelita B. Cruz, parent and a retired teacher, confirms that parents will need more money to finance the studies of their children. However, Mrs. Cruz also added that the K to 12 curriculum is will provide students with the basic skills and experience to decide on what college course to take.

Ms. Ana Banayo, a DepEd research officer, explained that students will be able to get a job that suits them better. Compared with the previous curriculum, students will have better mastery of basic competencies.

As designed in the K to 12 Program, Ms. Banayo added that junior high school offers additional subjects for basic subjects in college level. Senior high school, on the other hand, allows the student to choose from three specializations, namely:  (1) academic, (2) technical-vocational, and (3) sports and arts. This way, students would have clearer views on what profession they want to have in the future. “Yung graduates natin will be recognized as professionals (Our graduates will be recognized as professionals),” she added.

While Filipinos will have to wait for seven years to see the impact of the K to 12 Program through its first batch of graduates, the implementation of the new curriculum reminds us of the Filipino teachers’ unwavering commitment to their profession ensuring learning despite certain limitations and the parents’ concern for their children’s education.

In the end, it’s everyone working together for that same goal – a better quality of education for the succeeding batches of Filipino graduates.

FPRDI showcases bamboo flattening machine in SyenSaya 2012

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by  Mary Rose B. Manlangit

To support the need of tables and chairs of public schools and to provide livelihood for the local communities, the Forest Products Research and Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FPRDI-DOST) developed a bamboo flattening machine. The machine was featured during the Syen Saya ‘12 science exhibit held July 18-20, 2012 at Baker Hall, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

Come October 2012, FPRDI will be organizing a stakeholders meeting for different government agencies and for future investors to present the agency’s projects and on-going researches. The stakeholders meeting is part of FPRDI’s celebration of their 55th year of committed service.

In an interview with FPRDI Public Assistance Coordinator Ronelia O. Lalap, she said that the bamboo flattening machine was a project devised to modify the traditional flattening method of bamboo woods on making wood furniture. “With the use of the machine, bamboo flattening will be a lot easier and less time consuming”, she said.

The said machine was developed by Engr. Dante Pulmano with his co-researchers from DOST, funded by the DOST-TECHNICOM and monitored by the Philippine Council for Industrial Energy Research and Development (PCIERD).

There is a continuing project developments in the different parts of the country where the bamboo propagation is abundant, spearheaded by the technical services division of FPRDI who train the interested investors of the project.

Lalap said that normally the Local Government Units (LGUs) are those who invest in the project as part of their education and livelihood programs on their respective provinces. “In Region I, particularly Alaminos, Pangasinan, we have trained the LGUs and the local farmers on how to use the bamboo flattening machine and now we have heard that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) have funded them to manufacture tables and chairs for public schools in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd)”, she explained.

The technical services division maintains high quality standards for the bamboo furniture production and they have set criteria to make the manufactured products be open for commercialization here and abroad.

The bamboo flattening machine is one of the numerous projects of the FPRDI being mandated to conduct research and development to transfer technology and to render technical assistance when it comes to non-wood and wood products utilization in the country.

Lalap added that the agency provides livelihood among the local people including the farmers, housewives and those who are incapable of earning money in order to initiate development among themselves and in their communities.

P1 na taas pasahe sa tricycle, ipapatupad ng Bay

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ni Brando Bernard Bucks

Sa pagpupulong na ginanap noong Marso 19, 2012, Lunes, sa session hall ng bayan ng Bay, napagpasyahan ng Sangguniang Bayan (SB) na pahintulutan ang pagtataas ng pasahe para sa tricycle.

Pangunahing maapektuhan sa pagtataas ng pamasahe sa tricycle ay ang mga mag-aaral. Ipinapayo na lagi nilang dalhin ang kanilang school ID upang makakuha ng diskwento sa pasahe kahit tuwing Sabado o Linggo at mayroon silang gawaing pampaaralan.

Ayon kay Konsehal Emerson Ilagan, chairman ng Transportation and Communication Committee, may dagdag nang piso ang dating mga taripa. Ang magiging minimum na pasahe na ay P9.00 mula sa dating P8.00.

“Ang kapasiyahan naming ay kaugnay ng petisyon ng mga driver noon pang nakaraang taon,” sabi ni Ilagan. Napabalita ngayong taon ang sunud-sunod na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga produktong petrolyo bunsod umano ng pagtaas din ng halaga nito sa pandaigdigang pamilihan. Ngayong araw naman ay nagkaroon muli ng pagtataas ng presyo. Ito na ang ikasiyam na pagkakataon ng gayong pagtataas sa loob lamang ng unang tatlong buwan ng 2012.

Sa dami ng mga nagta-tricycle, malakas na rin ang kompetisyon sa pagkakakitaan kaya lumiliit na rin ang kita ng mga driver. Idagdag pa riyan na patuloy na tumataas ang presyo ng gasolina kaya naman inaasahan nilang madaragdagan ang taripa nila para makaagapay pa sila sa kanilang kabuhayan.

Nagsagawa ng mga public hearings bago ang naging pagpupulong ng SB. Ginanap ang mga public hearing sa Chipeco Building ng munisipyo ng Bay noong Pebrero 29 at Marso 8 at 15. Inanyayahan sa nasabing mga pulong ang mga punong-guro, mga pangulo ng mga tricycle operators and drivers association (TODA) ng iba’t ibang baranggay at ang pangulo ng pederasyon ng mga tricycle drivers ng munisipalidad. Liban sa kanila ay naging bukas din naman ang pulong sa iba pang mga mamamayan.

“Naiintindihan nila na kailangang magtaas na ng pasahe. Pero ang hiling naman nila ay iayos sana ang serbisyo,” pahayag ni Ilagan.

Inilahad ng konsehal na inaasahan sa mga tricycle driver na magsukli ng tama, magpatakbo sa tamang bilis, at ugaliin ang nararapat na hygiene. Dapat din silang maging magalang sa kanilang mga pasahero.

Tinukoy naman ng tagapangulo ng komunikasyon at transportasyon na ang marapat na humingi ng dagdag na piso sa pasahe ay ang mga may kaukulang dokumento gaya ng prangkisa, mayor’s permit at lisensya.

“Hindi naman tama na kung sino pa ang kolorum ay siya ang kumikita, at baka mas malaki pa ang kita niya kaysa sa legal na driver,” komento ni Ilagan.

Kaugnay nito ay iaayos ng SB ang kanilang ipalalabas na resolusyon ukol sa pagtataas ng pasahe. Sinabi ni Ilagan na makikipagsanggunian pa rin siya ukol sa ikatitiyak ng maayos na implementasyon ng kanilang pasiya.

Tumanggi naman siya na magbigay ng petsa ng implementasyon ng pagtataas ng pasahe ngunit maaaring magsimula na ito sa susunod na linggo kapag naiayos na ang ordinansa. “Binabalak pa rin namin kasing magpalagay ng mga announcements sa mga paradahan para huwag namang mabigla ang mga tao,” tukoy ni Ilagan.

Pinatunayan naman ni Aniceto Managat, tricycle driver mula sa Brgy. Sto. Domingo, na kailangan na nga nilang makatanggap ng dagdag sa kanilang taripa.

“Noong halos P50.00 pa kada litro, kumikita pa ako ng P100-P150. Pero ngayon na magiging P60.00 na, halos pang-gasolina na lang ulit ang kinikita ko,” daing ni Managat.

Ayon pa kay Managat, bunga ng kahirapan ng buhay ay ipinasiya niyang mamasada rin  ng tricycle liban pa sa paghahanapbuhay niya bilang farm aid sa BFAR station sa Brgy. Sto. Domingo. Namamasada siya tuwing umaga hanggang bago 8:00 ng umaga, kung kalian papasok naman siya sa BFAR.

Kung ihahambing naman sa ibang bayan, mas mababa ang pisong dagdag na pasahe sa bayan ng Bay.

“Sa Calauan, Victoria, at Sta. Cruz, sampung piso ang minimum nila,” paglalahad ni Ilagan.

Ayon pa kay Konsehal Ilagan, dalawang piso talaga ang hinihingi ng mga driver na dagdag sa pasahe ngunit pinakiusapan umano nila ang mga tricycle driver na maghinay-hinay upang maiwasan ang pagkabigla ng mga mamamayan.

Sinasang-ayunan naman ni Meryll Dela Cruz ang pagtataas ng pasahe sa tricycle. Mayroon siyang anak sa elementarya na lagi niyang inihahatid at sinusundo sa paaralan apat na beses isang araw.

“Kawawa naman kasi ang mga driver. Mataas na rin naman ang gasolina,” sabi ni Dela Cruz.

Para naman sa first year student mula sa Nicolas L. Galvez Memorial National High School na si Arvin Bautista, “Mataas na rin iyon kahit dalawang piso.”

Dalawang piso ang dagdag sa pamasahe ni Bautista araw-araw dahil kailangan niyang sumakay ng dalawang beses  ng tricycle para makarating sa paaralan. Magiging P16.00, kung gayon, ang kanyang babayaran mula P14.00.

Samantala, iba naman ang damdamin ni Ruth Batongmalaque, isang second year student mula sa Galvez.

“Okay lang ‘yun. Naghahanapbuhay naman kasi sila,” sabi ni Batongmalaque.

Kaalinsabay ng pagtataas ng pasahe, nanawagan si Konsehal Ilagan na ayusin ng mga driver ang kanilang serbisyo at ang kanilang mga dokumento upang maiwasan nila ang mahuli ng mga awtoridad at maabala pa sila.

Hinikayat din niya ang mga mamamayang pasahero ng mga tricycle na ipagbigay-alam agad sa mga pangulo ng kinauukulang TODA, ng pangulo ng pederasyon ng mga tricycle driver, o sa kaniya mismo ang anumang reklamo o suliranin kaugnay ng pamamasada ng tricycle.