Tagum City hailed for literacy programs

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) hailed Davao del Norte’s Tagum City for gaining recognition from the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) in its King Sejong Literacy Prize search of best literacy programs all over the world.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the Honorable Mention win of Tagum’s City Literacy Coordinating Council (CLCC)  should further inspire other local government units (LGUs) all over the country to boost their literacy programs.

Tagum City’s literacy program was cited for its Peace Management Literacy and Continuing Education through a Night Market Program. The program uses peace education activities, literacy teaching and business entrepreneurship to generate employment for the marginalized sector. One of its main goals is to sustain a peaceful urban environment.

Luistro said the award showed how literacy such as basic skills in reading, writing and numeracy can empower people to better direct and control their lives.

“At the end of the day, literacy gives everyone a fighting chance to a better life,” Luistro added.  

The theme of this year’s UNESCO International Literacy Prizes is literacy and peace with special consideration to gender equality. It is awarded to individuals, governments or governmental agencies and non-government organizations in recognition of their effective practices and successful results in the field of literacy throughout the world.

Years before 2004, night market vendors belonging to different cultural roots were already visible in Tagum City, positioning themselves anywhere they please and leaving mounds of garbage all over the place.

This prompted Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy to introduce the night market program which gave small and medium entrepreneurs the opportunity to sustain their businesses in accordance with an ordinance on the revised code of economic enterprise of the city.