DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept. 28 (PIA) -- Some 200 school children from Grade 1 to Grade 6 are eyed as beneficiaries of a tutoring program organized by the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation of Dumaguete in partnership with the Rotary Club of Dumaguete.

SK Federation Vice-President Renz Macion shared this in his interview with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Sec. Martin Andanar during the Laging Handa Network Briefing aired over Radyo Pilipinas and streamed live at the official Facebook page of PCOO and its affiliate bureaus on Sept. 24, 2020.

"We are identifying 25 pupils per barangay based on the criteria that we have set. We have considered the economic status of the family. We have also considered the availability and the capability of the parents to assist their children in answering the modules provided by the Department of Education (DepEd)," Macion explained.

"Right now, we have a total of eight barangays that will be benefiting from this project. So that's 200 pupils for now. We will surely expand in this particular initiative of ours together with the Rotary Club of Dumaguete, that's why we are so thankful," he added.

Aside from being part of the services exte

nded by the City SK Federation to Dumaguete youth during this time of pandemic, the program also touches on the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) No. 4 which pertains to quality education.

"We have a deadline to meet by 2030 and ayaw din namin ma-delay ang mga initiative natin. Iyong mga adbokasiya natin na tina-target iyong SDGs," Macion said.

The SK official noted that the partnership with the Rotary Club of Dumaguete also enables them to achieve SDG No. 17 which is about establishing linkages and partnerships for other SDGs.

DepEd is also involved in this endeavor.

"We are closely working with the Division Office of Dumaguete. In fact, they have provided us guidelines on how are we going to push through with this initiative of ours," Macion cited.

On the other hand, the SK federation vice-president emphasized that SK councils in the city are consistent in implementing initiatives that address concerns related to COVID-19.

"We are still continuing our initiatives on COVID-19. Hindi pa po kami kumpiyansa dito sa Dumaguete. Although wala kaming case, we are constantly reminding our people not to be complacent," Macion said.

"We are consistent with our clean-up drives in respective barangays. Some of our SK councils have been doing clean-up drives, coastal clean-up because hindi lang Covid ang kalaban natin ngayon. Mayroon din dengue so we have to take a look at these other health matters for the benefit of our constituents," he said.

Macion also made an appeal to Dumaguete youths to work together in addressing issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. (ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)