by Jocelyn P. Alvarez
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan. 26 (PIA 9) - - The Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) team from Manila visited Isabela City, Basilan recently to conduct monitoring on the implementation of the LCC radio program dubbed “Literacy para sa kaunlaran,” an advocacy radio program in Basilan.
Dr. Norma Salcedo , Head, Secretariat –LCC together with Dr. Milagros Ibe, consultant-LCC and two others from Philippine Information Agency (PIA) central office-manila distributed questioners to selected radio listeners, guests, anchor and co-anchor of the said radio program to assess what needs to be improved or strengthened in the implementation of the LCC radio program in the area.
“Literacy para sa kaunlaran” is a two hour radio program jointly implemented by the LCC and PIA region 9, aired over dxNO 97.5 FM Radio Comunidad every Sunday, 1:00pm to 3:00pm in Basilan with PIA Information Center (ICM) Manager-ZamBaSulTa, Felipo David Malcampo and Mona Rossana Muctar of Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. as program anchors.
ICM Malcampo said the radio program aims at helping bring about change on the traditional perception and understanding on the issue of literacy; on the stakeholders’ decision-making and behavior towards literacy-related concerns and to galvanize support to existing literacy-related programs and jump start the establishment and institutionalization of functional literacy programs and activities in the province of Basilan.
The radio program started airing over dxNO November of last year and will have its final episode sometime in February, this year.
“We are on our seventh episode of the program and we hope to finish the remaining episodes by February,” Malcampo was quoted as saying.
LCC is the country’s policy making and advisory body mandated by RA 7165 to coordinate all efforts relative to the universalization of literacy in the country.
LCC is continuously “burning candle,” working tough for the realization of its vision as the “lead agency tasked to formulate policies and coordinate national efforst towards the development of literacy skills for lifelong learning in a global society/community.”
An inter-agency body, it has eight members: the Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine Information Agency, Philippine Normal University, National Economic and Development Authority, Senate, House of Representatives and the Non-Government Organization sector involved in literacy. (JPA/ /PIA)