TUGUEGARAO CITY — Hundreds of struggling young readers and their teachers across Cagayan Valley are set to benefit from a ₱4-million extension project jointly launched by Isabela State University (ISU) and the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 2, focusing on youth literacy enhancement and improved nutrition education.
The two agencies signed a Memorandum of Agreement on Monday, June 30, at the DepEd Regional Office for a project aimed at improving reading literacy through an integrated approach of teacher training, materials development, and learner nutrition support.
The initiative has three main components: intensive training for educators based on current research, development of learning resource packages that integrate reading literacy in Math, English, and Science, and a feeding program for undernourished key stage 1 learners.
This feeding component will utilize the “SAGIP-Nutri Pack,” a food product developed by the ISU-Echague College of Education to help combat malnutrition among learners.
“Our project aims to use an interdisciplinary approach to improve reading literacy and combat malnutrition through teacher training and food technology application,” said Dr. Ferdinand Bulusan, ISU’s University Extension Director and the extension project leader.
The program is scheduled to be implemented within the year, Bulusan added.
DepEd’s counterpart includes logistics, materials, and printing of developed learning resources, while ISU’s counterpart focuses on expert services, technology application, and project monitoring.
DepEd Region 2 Director Dr. Benjamin Paragas lauded the partnership with ISU, led by President Boyet Batang and RDET Vice President Dr. Orlando Balderama.
“Thank you for your ever-ready support to DepEd programs, particularly in strengthening literacy rates in the Region,” Director Paragas expressed while signing the MOA.
Bulusan mentioned that this kind of extension project cum partnership is aligned with the new vision of the administration toward making ISU an agent of “positive societal transformation.”
Representing their respective institutions at the signing were Dr. Paragas for DepEd and Dr. Bulusan for ISU.
Dr. Octavio Cabasag, Chief of the Curriculum and Learning Management Division, and Mr. James Pamittan, Education Program Supervisor, witnessed the ceremonial MOA signing.