PASIG CITY – Around 1,800 elementary and high school students have participated in the recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) information drive led by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) in Malay, Aklan.
This ASEAN information drive aims to raise the awareness of students about the ASEAN community and the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship in 2017.
Aside from the students, Heyograpiya, Kasaysayan at Sibika (HEKASI) and Araling Panlipunan (AP) teachers were also provided with new and additional knowledge on ASEAN, which they can use in the integration of the ASEAN lessons in their subjects.
After the interactive discussions, school supplies such as foldable bags, notebooks, and ballpens were given to students in the said activity.
Among the schools visited by the PCOO and DepEd in Boracay were Yapak Elementary School, Balabag Elementary School, and Manocmanoc Elementary School; and Lamberto H. Terol National High School, Boracay National High School, and Manocmanoc High School.
Meanwhile, the schools visited in mainland Aklan were Caticlan Elementary School, Argao Elementary School, and Malay Elementary School; and Malay National High School.
The PCOO and DepEd will also conduct an ASEAN information drive in Iloilo City on March 6-7, 2017.
ASEAN awareness campaign
In its Central Office, DepEd also campaigns for better ASEAN community awareness by displaying the flags of ASEAN member countries and by playing a video, which discusses essential information about the works and advocacies of ASEAN.
Other activities of DepEd in line with the Civil Service Memorandum Circular No. 6, series 2016, or the Awareness Campaign in Support of ASEAN Community 2015 and the Philippines’ Chairmanship of ASEAN 2017, include posting of ASEAN information materials on the DepEd website; singing of the ASEAN Anthem during the first flag ceremony of the month; sharing of ASEAN information/updates at different DepEd fora and gatherings; and other activities that will inculcate the importance of ASEAN in all DepEd employees.
The Education Department also enjoins all public and private schools nationwide to adopt similar activities in raising the awareness of teachers, students, and other stakeholders.
These efforts are pursuant to the DepEd Memorandum No. 3, series of 2017 or the Dissemination of Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 6, s. 2016, which is available at http://www.deped.gov.ph/memos/dm-3-s-2017.
