ANGELES CITY – The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Council of Barangay Sta. Monica in Lubao town was hailed as the National Champion-Most Outstanding SK project in Education.
This was gleaned during the recently concluded International Youth Day Celebration hosted by Unilab, Ideas Positive, and National Youth Commission at SMX Convention in Davao.
Project Takbang, a barangay-based program, is an educational program which aims to guide students in every step they take in reaching their dreams, with the support of resolutions No. 05 of the Barangay Council headed by Helen Dizon, and No. 08 of the SK Council, headed by Arjay Bartolome.
Lubao Mayor Esmie Pineda commended the barangay and SK officials for their efforts to extend a helping hand to their constituents.
“Masaya po ako na nakuha po natin ang parangal at ituloy lang ang ganitong klase ng programa na nakapokus sa edukasyon ng mga kabataan. Hindi po ito dapat kainggitan kundi tularan para makagawa pang mga makabuluhan na proyekto sa mga kabataan,” she mentioned.
The said project caters the financial needs of indigent students from Lubao National High School.
“Yung financial assistance po is exclusive to indigent high school students po. Tinutugunan po niya ung miscellaneous fees sa public high school na P1,000 para libre na po mga bata. We started with 80 students noong 2018, ngayon pong 2019 ay 130 na sila. May three sources of funds po siya,” Bartolome said.
According to Bartolome, funds for the regular assistance come from the P50,000 SK funds of the barangay; P22,000 from the deducted salaries of barangay officials for 10 months (stated in Resolution No. 05); and private sector sponsors.
“Bali yung financial assistance po na iyon ay kami po mismo ang direkta na nagbabayad sa beneficiary school po namin na Lubao National High School para wala na po sila isipin,” he furthered.
Aside from this, Bartolome added, they are also conducting research workshops, tutorial sessions, career seminar, and follow-up visitations to the beneficiaries. “Yung research workshop naman po ay nag start siya tuwing August. Once a month na po siya noon hanggang sa matapos ung mga thesis ng mga bata na Grades 10 to 12. Yung tutorial po quarterly, Saturday before the periodical exams, open po ang barangay para po magturo kami sa kanila sa mga nahihirapan silang subjects,” he said.
For the SK Sta. Monica Lubao, education is the key to success. However, as officials, they should be responsible to help and lead the youth in their needs – to teach and guide them is the core value of Project Takbang, Bartolome said.
“Kasama ninyo ang SK sa bawat hakbang patungo sa inyong pangarap. Hindi binubuo ng Project Takbang ang isang proyekto o tropeo, binubuo nito ang isang daan at tatlumpung pangarap ng mga kabataan at ang pangarap na makita ang mga kabataan na patuloy na sumusulong para sa kanilang pangarap, para sa Diyos at para sa Bayan!”
Board Member Moshe Lacson, president of the SK Federation–Pampanga chapter, in his Facebook post expressed support to Bartolome and his colleagues Kressa Paule Jojie Cabiling, Ma. Luz Montemayor, Kristine Paule, Klein Jasper Guzman, Kris Wendell Cordova, Kate Dizon and Carl Ocampo.
Bartolome also thanked his fellow officials for the unending assistance – barangay Kagawads Jerry Dale, Ranny Layug, Ricardo Dizon, Armando Coronel, Rowenna Manahan, Alfredo Bartolome, Alfredo Bansil, Lorilai Bartolome, and Gomer Bansil.