2 more countries back RP's bid for SEA-CLLSD

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s bid for the Manila-based Southeast Asian Center for Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development (SEA-CLLSD) to be conferred the UNESCO Category 2 Center status gained support from two more Southeast Asian countries – Brunei Darussalam and Timor Leste.

In a meeting with DepEd Secretary and UNESCO Executive Board member Jesli Lapus, UNESCO Natcom secretary-general Amb. Preciosa Soliven announced that Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Asia Pacific Coordinator Derek Elias has provided technical assistance to the SEA-CLLSD to ensure that the revised proposal would meet the criteria set by the UNESCO.

So far, nine Southeast Asian countries have expressed support for the SEA-CLLSD, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. SEA-CLLSD consultant Amb. Hector Villarroel said that the government of Myanmar is sending its letter of support.

SEA-CLLSD interim director Juanita Guerrero said that a Joint Senate-House Resolution recognizing the SEA-CLLSD has passed first reading and would hopefully be approved before Congress ends session. She added that in the proposal, O. B. Montessori Center, Inc. will no longer be SEA-CLLSD’s National Laboratory but will only be one of its many service providers. The other service providers are Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Commission on Higher Education, Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication, Philippine Information Agency, among others.