2010 National Literacy Awards validates Sorsogon City Literacy Program

News Release

SORSOGON PROVINCE (July 27) – The 2010 National Literacy Awards evaluation committee visited Sorsogon City on July 15-16 to assess and validate Sorsogon City’s Literacy Program for this year’s search as it has ranked among the five hot finalists for this year’s Outstanding LGU – component city category.

The four other city contenders are Tagum in Davao Del Norte, Malaybalay in Bukidnon, Balanga in Bataan and Cadiz in Negros Occidental.

The evaluators, composed of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Program Development Director Emilyn Libunao who is also the 2010 national chair of the board of judges, and Dr. Norma Salcedo, secretariat head of the Literacy Coordinating Council, said that they are giving on three criteria for judging which focuses on project planning and development (15 %), project management and implementation (40%) and impact of the project (45%).

Locally dubbed as “Linang Dunong” Program, the city’s literacy program highlights the Computer Van Aralan, Bacon Community Learning Center, Kiddie Toy Center and Library, Bibincahan Nursery, Maharlika Development Cooperative, “Sa Aton Ini” project, Senior Citizen Affairs Office, Sorsogon City Teen Center and the Pangpang Community Learning Center wherein each component were validated on-site by the jurors.

The judges were particularly impressed by the city’s waste water treatment facility that ensures cleanliness of the used water from the city’s public market before it is finally disposed.

“Our desire to be considered as one of the cleanest city in the country follows a big responsibility to the community and environment. Consequently, this facility will be one of the city’s contributions to the conservation of Sorsogon Bay that is presently being plagued by red tide toxic contamination affecting shellfish,” Sorsogon City Mayor Leovic Dioneda said.

With the city’s inclusion again this year in the National Literacy Awards, Dioneda believes that win or lose, the program has already built a greater impact on the development of the literacy status in Sorsogon City making the local populace more productive in their daily living.

Dioneda added that his administration’s literacy program also targets at least one member in each family to have finished a college degree.

He has also vowed to sustain and even improve further the program during his entire term as the chief executive of Sorsogon City. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)