City mayors back K to 12 program

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – The League of Cities of the Philippines is supporting the implementation of the K to 12 program, which seeks to add two years in the country’s basic education system.

In a full-page newspaper advertisement yesterday, the LCP, led by Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, said the government’s flagship education reform program has the full and unwavering support of the alliance of city mayors in the Philippines.

“The cities strongly and firmly believe that senior high school, which will commence in 2016, is a significant component of the basic and necessary education reform,” the LCP statement reads.

In the Bicol region, the Department of Education (DepEd) also said that only an order from the Supreme Court could stop them from implementing the program.

Jose Bonto, DepEd-Bicol administrative office chief, said the regional DepEd has started the construction of additional classrooms, hired more teachers and put in place the additional instructional materials needed for the full-blown implementation of the government’s K to 12 curriculum.

“These activities are expected to be completed by 2016 when we have to start offering the senior high school phase of the K to 12 curriculum,” he said.

In its statement, the LCP mayors said that while the K to 12 may initially appear to be costly, it will result in a better life for the students in the long run.

“We acknowledge that the additional two years of secondary education may appear to be costly and cumbersome for majority of the Filipino families, but we are confident that senior high school is critical for enhancing the capacity of young learners to make informed life and career choices,” it added.

Aside from Bautista, LCP national chairman Mayor Oscar Moreno (Cagayan de Oro) and LCP secretary-general Mayor Del De Guzman (Marikina) also signed the statement. Joining them were Mayors Evelyn Uy (Dipolog), Belen Fernandez (Dagupan), Arlene Arcillas (Sta. Rosa), Agustin Bascon (Himamaylan), Sally Ante-Lee (Sorsogon), Stephany Uy-Tan (Catbalogan), Michael Rama (Cebu) and Allan Rellon (Tagum).

According to them, the senior high school program ensures a stronger and quality Filipino workforce while providing a fertile ground for cultivating Filipino leaders and nation builders.

“Cities across the country are fully committed to work with the national government for the effective and successful implementation of the program. The cities choose to be part of the solution and we will be glad to welcome more partners in the process. We will never know when the country will be ready for a major education reform unless we do it now,” the statement read in part.

Business groups back K to 12

Different business organizations have also written to President Aquino to express their support for K to 12 as it asked the government to address issues that are being questioned.

“We applaud the administration’s resolve and commitment to the K-12 reform and thus, fully support its continued and proper implementation. We also believe, however, that the labor issues raised these past few months should be looked into and thus need to be addressed. We, therefore, call on the government to address these issues with legitimate solutions,” the letter read.

The stand is supported by the Makati Business Club, Philippine Business for Education, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Management Association of the Philippines and the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines.

Source: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/05/10/1453184/city-mayors-back-k-12-program

Photo: Philippine Star File Photo