Tubungan among top 5 in literacy competition

Tubungan, Iloilo – The town of Tubungan is among the top five finalists in this year's Search for Outstanding Local government Units in Literacy Program implementation. Tubungan was last year's National champion in the same search. 

Tubungan boasts of three Literacy projects, which include DAL-ON TA ( Delivery of Assistance Towards Literacy On New Techniques and approaches), the BAOL (Barangay Aid on Literacy) and the BUKIDNON (Buhay sa Kinabukasan, Dunong ng Nayon Obligadong Nililinang).

DAL-ON TA is a Hiligaynon phrase which means “to deliver”. This project was conceived primarily to answer the call of the national government for the eradication of illiteracy through non-formal or alternative education that reaches the marginal residents of the municipality.

The municipality allotted an amount of Php 111, 000 for the program, which primarily serves adults and out-of-school youth, aged 15 years old and above, who would like to avail of the Accreditation and Equivalency (A & E) System of the DepEd-NFE.

The Accreditation and Equivalency System grants certification of learning comparable to the elementary and secondary education. There are 10 learners in Tubungan who have passed the NFE and A&E exam and are now qualified to enroll in college.

The BAOL program is a Kinaray-a term for a treasure box wherein valuable things are being kept.  In the literacy  program of Tubungan BAOL is a  traveling library with reading materials and modules that are delivered to the houses of the identified learners who are being supervised by the Literacy Facilitator assigned.

With this scheme, the learners can study and learn even in their respective houses.  The project is particularly designed to cater to the  underprivileged, deprived and indigenous people in the barangays.

The project BUKIDNON was formally launched last June  26, 2005 at Bgy. Igpaho, the farthest barangay in the municipality where most of the IPs live.  The recipients, members of the Bukidnon tribe, organized by the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), with the support of the LGU.

Part of educating these IPs is the aim of making them socially, politically, spiritually and morally adjusted to the overall culture, without losing their identity.

Tubungan Mayor Victor Tabaquirao said that even with limited budget and resources, his municipality has sustained these literacy programs.  It is because of the spirit of cooperation and unfailing support of government agencies involved in the projects.

As of date, 38 barangays out of 48, have established their Barangay Literacy Coordinating Council. (CDIO/PIA 6).