AGFI Holds Turnover Ceremony For Unang Aklat Municipality In Samal, Bataan
Adarna Group Foundation, Inc. (AGFI) wrapped up its Unang Aklat program in Samal, Bataan with the passage of “An Ordinance Promoting the Importance of Early Literacy as an Integral Part of Early Stimulation for Children Ages 0 to 2 Years Old of the Municipality of Samal, Bataan”, the creation of the Samal Early Literacy (EL) Team, and a turnover ceremony.
AGFI has been implementing its flagship program, Unang Aklat (UA), in Samal, Bataan since 2013 and has benefited seven hundred eleven (711) Samalenyos. With the turnover, AGFI hands over the program to Samal’s Early Literacy team composed of municipality officials.
The turnover ceremony took place at the Samal Covered Court on March 6, 2020 right after the municipality’s town hall meeting. It was attended by UA participants who had attended at least three (3) learning sessions, the RHU staff, and selected officials of the Samal LGU.
In her opening message for the ceremony, Mayor Aida Macalinao described the UA program as “Isa itong maliit na proyekto, na may malaking impact.” This was followed by a video presentation of UA volunteers who described the impact of the program on them. Con Estrella, AGFI OIC, headed the awarding of certificates and a token of appreciation to selected UA participants. AGFI also presented a plaque to the municipality in recognition of its completion of the UA program. The presentation was followed by a message from Dr. Cristina Espino, municipal health officer, who then called the other members of the Early Literacy Team to the stage for their oath taking. The Early Literacy Team members, composed of representatives from the Rural Health Unit, Office of the Mayor, and Department of Education-Samal, were each given a “Bawat Batang Filipino Nakababasa” shirt and an AGFI pin. Lyn Almario, AGFI president, thanked Samal for their successful seven-year partnership and Councilor Amy De La Rosa, in her closing remarks, motivated the staff and the mothers of the community to continue their promotion of early literacy.
Moving forward, the EL team, together with RHU staff, are to attend an Intensive Early Literacy Training that will prepare them for implementing early literacy learning sessions in their own barangays. AGFI will also provide a one-year’s supply of books for the municipality.
The municipality of Samal is the first AGFI community to pass a municipality ordinance on early literacy and stimulation and is also the first to officially complete an Unang Aklat program implementation. AGFI hopes that despite the end of the UA implementation, Samal will continuously promote early literacy and stimulation for its 0 to 2 year old population.