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theWeavers weaving truthful news, sharing inspiring views Vol. 4 No. 1 The Official Publication of Mangansag Elementary School Division of Romblon MIMAROPA Region July 2024-March 2025
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Mangansag journalists dominate the 2023 RSPC Photojournalism Podium
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by KHIELY GANDECILA
PBBM extends lifeline to Romblon farmers and fishermen affected by El Niño
Photojournalists Keren Anne and Matt Anthony Fruelda of Mangansag made history in the 2023 Regional Schools Press Conference in Angel’s Hills, Tagaytay City, defeating other journalists in the MIMAROPA Region. Keren Anne won second place in the English category, while Matt Anthony took third place in the Filipino category.
by CHINLEE FALO
LGU drives road rehabilitation and repair across the municipality
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by KENDRA FALLARNA
Local Government Unit (LGU) of Corcuera through the leadership of Mayor Elmer Fruelda is now in the forefront in rehabilitating and repairing roads in the municipality. This program aims to raise the quality of roads, make them safer, and stimulate the flow of goods across the district.
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LGU Steps In NEWS/ PAGE 3
A Hard Pill to Swallow OPINION/PAGE 8
Breaking Point FEATURE/PAGES 10-11
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Matatag 2024 Pilot: Students, Teachers Spark Challenges Amid ‘Trial and Error’ Fears by DERANZ FLOYD FADERAGAO
ontroversy, however, was experienced as soon as DepEd, under the leadership of Vice President Sara Duterte, introduced Matatag for the new curriculum for the school year 2024-2025. Currently, changes affect only Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 4, and Grade 7. Despite slight differences from previous K–12 versions, this approach raises serious concerns about why the educational system is pursuing an experimental political initiative, putting undue pressure on teachers, students, and parents with yet another round of testing.
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FROM K-12 TO MATATAG In 2013, the K–12 program changed basic education by adding more years of schooling to help students compete with others around the world. It was implemented in the whole country and affects millions of students. Now, over ten years later, we are introducing the new Matatag curriculum. This curriculum focuses on key thinking skills and uses a straightforward approach to learning. It reduces daily teaching time from one and a half hours to just 45 minutes. The purpose is to improve the rate of learning. WHO SUFFERS? Thus, QCPSTA (Quezon City Public School Association) president Erlinda Aquino said that Matatag curriculum “does not help improve the quality of education if our teachers are completely worn out, let alone the additional workload brought by the Matatag curriculum. The same can be said of students
The students are undoubtedly the most significant victims of this continuous experimentation. basedonstatistics A survey of 3,679 respondents revealed that the implementation of the Matatag Curriculum has increased teacher’s workloads by
30%
making their jobs more burdensome.
source: BULATLAT.COM
and their studies. We are not robots. By the evening, we are fully exhausted because, with the new timetable, we teach eight classes in contrast to the previous six. ►continue on P03
individuals in Romblon province are set to receive financial aid in response to the adverse impacts of the El Niño phenomenon.
The farmers and fishermen of Romblon defined the latter agencies in terms of releases of related monetary assistance at more or less 116 million PH through the different agencies spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture with Sec. Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr., Department of Social Welfare and Development with Sec. Rex Gatchalian and the Department of Interior and Local Government through Sec. Benjamin Abalos, Jr. on July 18, 2024. In the meantime, the DSWD recently released ₱10,000 to each of the 3,000 families of farmers and fishermen in Romblon province affected by El Niño. DA Secretary Kiko guaranteed that the department would continue providing support in his message. “Makakaasa kayo na kung ano man ang pangangailangan ninyo ay makakarating sa lalong madaling panahon. Babalik at babalik kami sa inyo upang matutukan ang mga programa ng DA. Pagtulungan po nating punuin ang hapag kainan ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” said Secretary Kiko. Secretary Abalos read a message from President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who couldn't attend due to the bad weather in the province, encouraging farmers to trust the government. “Nawa’y maging susi ito [mga interbensyon] upang lalong mapasigla ang ekonomiya ng MIMAROPA at ng buong bansa. Hangad ko na mas mapaganda ang inyong mga buhay pagkatapos ng tagtuyot. Sabay sabay nating salubungin ang isang Bagong Pilipinas," read Secretary Abalos.