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CITY OF TAGUM: CHAMPION IN 2010 NATIONAL LITERACY AWARDS

In celebration of the Annual Literacy Week, the Department of Education (DepEd) through the Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) in cooperation and coordination with other Government Organizations (GOs) Local Government Units (LGUs), Private Organizations (POs) or Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) hold the 2010 National Literacy Conference and Awards Night on September 8–11, 2010 at the Teachers Camp, Baguio City, Philippines.

One of the highlights of the conference is the Awarding Ceremony of the Top Five (5) winners of the Search for Outstanding Implementers of the National Literacy Programs/Projects. These winners are selected from the LGU (Component City, Municipal Levels, Class A & B) for their exemplary accomplishments in literacy development through their programs and projects.

City of Tagum makes it as 2010 CHAMPION in the National Literacy Awards (2010, 2008 and 2001) with the following winning points;

1. Consistent implementation of functional literacy programs that reach out to learners of different ages, ethnicity and gender, and taught in many ways where learners are able to develop their artistic potentials, build their small enterprise, or get work in their locality or abroad.
2. Balik Sigla program where masseur trained by the LGU are hired  to give therapy to constituents who suffer from immobility due to heart attack or stroke; service is provided in all Barangays based on mapping done by the LGU. More than a thousand have graduated from this program and some of them are now earning through private practice in Tagum, where they have set up their clinics with the help of the LGU. Still others were accredited by TESDA and were able to work abroad.
3. Indigenous education – the young generation of indigenous communities taking pride in their culture and history as they learn the dances and rituals from their elders through education programs with the LGU; shared through the yearly festival held in the City. 
4. Organic farming – conversion of waste from the butchery and the market into organic fertilizer and training of more than 100 farmers in organic farming using the compost product.

Meanwhile, the four other winners for the component city categories are; 2nd Balanga City, 3rd Cadiz City, 4th Malaybalay City and 5th Sorsogon City.

The awarding program took place on September 10, 2010 at the Benitez Hall, Teachers Camp, Baguio City and was personally attended by Under Secretary Rizalino D. Rivera of the Department of Education. City of Tagum delegates was headed by Mayor Rey T. Uy; Head-CLCC Secretariat Mr. Anwar E. Maadel, MPA; Legislative Officer Staff Ms. Jalmaida L. Jamiri, MPA; and both from Department of Education Mr. Darwin F. Suyat, MA and Ms. Leila L. Ibita.

Picture Caption 1
City of Tagum Mayor Rey T. Uy happily with a smile receives the 2010 NATIONAL CHAMPION Trophy and Cash Prize for the National Literacy Awards from  the Department of Education Under Secretary Rizalino D. Rivera during the awarding program took place on September 10, 2010 at the Benitez Hall, Teachers Camp, Baguio City.

Picture Caption 2
In the picture are the City of Tagum delegates during the Awarding Ceremony of the Top Five (5) winners of the Search for Outstanding Implementers of the National Literacy Programs/Projects held at the Benitez Hall, Teachers Camp, Baguio City  of which City of Tagum make it as 2010 Champion of the National Literacy Awards which was headed by Mayor Rey T. Uy (3rd from right); Head, City Literacy Coordinating Council Secretariat Mr. Anwar E. Maadel (5th from right); Legislative Officer Staff Ms. Jalmaida L. Jamiri (1st from right); Mr. Darwin F. Suyat (1st from left) and Ms. Leila L. Ibita (2nd from right) both are Department of Education Representative and Head, National Literacy Coordinating Council Secretariat Dr. Norma L. Salcedo (4th from right)

Picture Caption 3 In the group photo are City Literacy Coordinating Council (CLCC) of Tagum headed and Chaired by Chief Executive City Mayor Rey T. Uy (in the center) holding the 2010 NATIONAL CHAMPION Trophy Prize for the National Literacy Awards given by the Department of Education during the awarding program took place on September 10, 2010 at the Benitez Hall, Teachers Camp, Baguio City. Together in the group is the City Officials - Coun. Maria Lina Baura, Coun. Francisco Remitar and Coun. Jodel Caasi (10th, 11th and 12th from right, respectively) and jointly by the CLCC Members and Technical Working Group headed by City Administrator Rafael Abrenica (2nd from left), Executive Assistant III Delia dela Cruz (9th from right) and Head, CLCC Secretariat Mr. Anwar E. Maadel (7th from right), this picture is the reenactment of the awards taken in front of the Tagum City Hall during the City of Tagum Employees Monday Convocation on September 13, 2010.