Cities and municipalities from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao were honored at the 3rd Seal of Good Education Governance awarding ceremony for outstanding efforts in improving the quality of basic education in their communities
Synergeia Foundation, a coalition of individuals, institutions, and organizations, working together to improve the quality of basic education, established the program in 2017 along with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In partnership with digital services provider PLDT Inc. and its wireless subsidiary, Smart Communications (Smart), the team has awarded more than 50 local government units (LGUs) to-date for being able to sufficiently provide children with equal access to quality education.
With 47 applicants for its 2019 leg, Seal awardees are deliberated upon by Synergeia trustees and representatives from PLDT, Smart, and SGV Foundation. Criteria for outstanding education governance include the reinvention of each LGU’s local school boards and establishment of functional school governing councils.
The cities and municipalities must have also significantly reduced the number of non-readers and frustrated readers in their locality. Moreover, the percentage of first graders who completed sixth grade must have increased. The LGUs also must have considerably boosted their budget for learning programs.
Top 20 Finalists are the following: Agoo, La Union, Bacnotan, La Union, Bongao, Tawi Tawi, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, Diffun, Quirino, Kayapa, Nueva Viscaya, Lambunao, Iloilo, Mambusao, Capiz, Mina, Iloilo, Navotas, NCR, Padre Garcia, Batangas, San Gabriel, La Union, Simunul, Tawi Tawi, Solano, Nueva Viscaya, Taraka, Lanao Del Sur, Tuba, Benguet, Upi, Maguindanao, Valenzuela, NCR and Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.
The third batch of Seal of Good Education Governance recipients will each receive a communications package worth Php 100,000 for call, text, and data services from PLDT and Smart.
