Four teachers in disparity areas under the Sixth Country Program fro Children were recently awarded fro their efforts and initiative in the promotion and advocacy of children’s rights in their schools in Negros Oriental.

In rites, held at Plaza Ma. Luisa Suites Inn recently, the awardees were honored by members of the CPC – 6 Technical Work Group, with Department of Education provincial superintendent Dr. Maria Milagros Velez and Rep. George Arnaiz ( Neg. Or. 2^nd District).

The awardees, who each received a certificate of appreciation and a bag filled with teacher’s supplies, were Juliet Mercullo of East Balabag Elementary School in Valencia, Shiela Marie Estonilo of Salag Elementary School in bacong, Amalia Samson of Sacsac Elementary School,  Bayawan City.

They were evaluated based on criteria that emphasized on their communication plan implementation, and their efforts to reduce drop-out rates in their schools. Assistant provincial administrator Josefina Columna, who also sits as Chair of the CPC-6 Provincial Communication Task Force, said that teachers are at the frontline of CPC-6’s capmpaign to promote Children’s Rights in the villages.

“Teachers serve as our channels of communication, our bridge and our link to reach our shared goals,” she said in her opening remarks during the awarding ceremony. Columna said that by honoring the teachers, they hope that this will inspire others to work harder and do more to promote and advance the interest of the NegOr child.

This was echoed by Arnaiz who has earned the moniker “Father of All Children in Negros Oriental,” for successfully pushing for the expansions of CPC-6 projects to benfit more barangays in towns and cities in the province, when the Child Friendly Movement first rolled out under his stint as then governor.

Arnaiz said that the province has been very fortunate to have been  included in both the fifth and sixth stages of the Country Program for Children, “seldom has a province been included in two programs,” he said.