PGMA SLATES VISIT TO MASBATE FRIDAY
… to showcase milestone legacy on Philippine Education

LEGAZPI CITY— President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will visit Monreal town in Ticao Island, Masbate province to ensure full implementation of the Philippine Main Education Highway (PMEH) towards a knowledge-based economy.

President Arroyo will be in Monreal National High School (MNHS) to inspect the new computer lab established under the Secondary Schools Computer Literacy Project SSCLP) that would soon join Internet Connectivity Program (ICP) of the Department of Education (DepEd) throughout the archipelago.

Upon arrival at the MNHS, the President will be received by Masbate Governor Elisa Kho, Monreal Vice Mayor Romeo L. Grona, , Masbate 1st District Representative Narciso “Bong” Bravo Jr. Poblacion Barangay Chair Myrna Almoradie, PA for Region V Tomasito Monson, DepEd Undersecretary Ramon Bacani, DepEd Region V Director Celedonio Layon Jr, Masbate PNP Provincial Director Police Senior Supt. Eddie Benigay and AFP 903 IB Col. Joselito Bernardo.

MNHS Principal Rustico Atacadoir Jr,will also lead other school officials, mentors students, parents, and the local populace in welcoming the President as she reaches out to this remote town.

MNHS has 651 students, mostly children of farmers, fishermen and ordinary folks, manned by 13 teachers who are all trained under the DepEd Secondary Education Development and Improvement Project (DSEDIP), the high school has a teacher student ratio of 1:54.

Before the public schools were established in Ticao island, residents sent their children to schools in Pilar in mainland Sorsogon, travelling two-hour sea travel by boats with outriggers. Now, that situation has changed as government has established two more public high schools in Monreal.

President Arroyo is also expected to deliver her message her sorties in the said town that will focus on her administration’s milestone legacy in Philippine Education under the roadmap to quality education along the PMEH.

The ICP is the key result of the President’s Education For All (EFA) agenda through the DepEd’s showcase in Linking Hands for Education (LHE) where various stakeholders and sectors of Philippine society converge to make education of the youth as a paramount concern and main business.

The President has constantly emphasized the need for a highly competent and globally competitive citizenry by strengthening the partnerships and linkages of various stakeholders in Philippine Education.

The President´s strong commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) on Education for All by 2015 and in fulfilling the Education For All (EFA) for 2010 National Action Plan has pushed for the zero drop-out rate and avoid repetition of the preschoolers through quality-assured programs for pre-school and early childhood care and development.

In her SONA 2009, the President’s zeal for the teaching profession being a teacher herself has since then set the concerned government agencies in action to give priority and allocate more funds in education and skills training.

PMEH envisions that every Filipino family shall be assured that each child has the opportunity to get a high quality education that leads to becoming a whole person, a successful entrepreneur and a productive and responsible citizen. (MALoterte, PIA V)