KIDAPAWAN CITY, Sept. 26 (PNA) – The city government of Kidapawan has topped this year’s National Literacy Awards, according to an official of the Department of Education (DepEd) here.

Lourdes Varias, city schools division superintendent, said the entry that made Kidapawan City on top was about a project jointly undertaken by the local government unit (LGU) and the DepEd that helped address the literacy problems of the indigenous communities here.

The DepEd official said that the award, received by City Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco in Baguio City during the National Literacy Awards recently, “was a manifestation of the local government’s commitment in delivering quality formal and non-formal education even to the remotest parts of the city.”

“We believe that education is vital in helping our constituents become better and responsible individuals. With DepEd’s help, we were able to come up with solutions in addressing the need of our people for education,” said Gantuangco.

This as another Science teacher from a public elementary school here won third place in the country’s Search for the 2008 Outstanding Science Club Advisers.

Marissa Baclayon, science teacher at the Special Education Center of the Kidapawan City Pilot Elementary School, received the award on Sept. 24 during the 2008 National Science Club month celebrations held in Cagayan de Oro City.

Early this year, a student from the Kidapawan City National High School special Science curriculum won first place during the 2008 National Science and Technology Quiz held in Laguna. Jamil Repors, fourth year student of the KCNHS Science Curriculum was 2008 DepEd Gawad Ulirang Kabataan.

Gantuangco said that the LGU, through its Special Education Fund (SEF), has provided poor but deserving students the opportunities to learn. “Not only that, through SEF, we were able to construct new school buildings and bought facilities for many schools. By doing this, we’re making sure we have helped improve the lives of our poor people,” he stressed. (PNA)