La Union town bags UNESCO, DepEd awards for literacy

AGOO, La Union , Philippines  – Officials of this pilgrimage town in southern La Union received from the Department of Education (DepEd) the Hall of Fame award for its continuing education and lifelong learning program.

DepEd Undersecretary Ramon Bacani handed the award, with a P100,000 cash prize, to Mayor Sandra Eriguel in simple rites at the Teacher’s Camp in Baguio City.

Last month, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) awarded them the “Confucius Prize for Literacy 2009” for the same project, consisting of a silver medal, a certificate, and $20,000. The awarding was held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France last Sept. 8.

The UNESCO jury commended the Agoo Municipal Literacy Coordinating Council for its project of making available a vast array of education and training opportunities to the entire population, including the neediest people.

“The municipal authority’s leadership in coordinating activities is a key factor in eliminating illiteracy and sustaining lifelong learning in the town’s 49 villages. The jury commended the project’s joint funding by the government, non-government organizations, the private sector and international donors as exemplary,” the UNESCO said in a letter to Eriguel.

Agoo was the first Asian country to win the Confucius Prize, an initiative supported by the government of the People’s Republic of China which gave the cash prize.

The literacy program of Agoo was started by former mayor Eufranio Eriguel in 1998 and sustained by his wife Sandra when she assumed office in 2007. Former vice mayor Elizabeth Shiela Milo was the project’s coordinator.  

UNESCO said that Agoo’s structured literacy and post-literacy program has considerably reduced the illiteracy rate. Also cited were the scholarships given to bright children who might otherwise not pursue their studies.

“The holistic vision of the program is evident in the six learning strands within the accreditation and equivalency sub-program, namely communication skills, critical thinking and problem solving, sustainable use of resources and productivity, self-development, a sense of community and expanding one’s world vision,” UNESCO further stated.