Basilan Ready For 2nd Phase Of ACCESS Mindanao Project

School children play in Basilan island. (Zamboanga Journal)

BASILAN ISLAND (Rene Carbayas / 25 May) The Department of Education (DepEd) said it is to implement the second phase of the so-called ACCESS Mindanao Project. It stands for: Acceleration and Accreditation Support Program for the Out-of-School Children & Youth in Mindanao.

The project which is under the auspices of the Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. (NFI) was presented to DepEd district supervisors and Alternative Learning System coordinators from the towns of Lamitan, Tipo-Tipo, Tuburan, Lantawan, and Maluso for future coordinative and collaborative implementation.

Esperancita Hupida, NFI project coordinator, introduced the programs and undertakings of the organization during a meeting Tuesday of NFI stakeholders and partners at the Lamitan Central Elementary School.

She said the existing literacy programs of the NFI includes the Alternative Learning System-Acceleration and Accreditation (ALS-A&E) program where some 244 out-of-school children and youths from Lantawan alone have benefited during the first phase of implementation. Some 750 slots are given for Lantawan, Tuburan, and Lamitan collectively for the second phase.

Aside from the ACCESS Mindanao Project, the NFI Literacy Program also has the Integrated Technical Education intended for out-of-school youth which is an expanded program that includes ALS-A&E and technical training on various trades such as electronics, food technology, dressmaking, rubber nursery, crab fattening, automotive, and reflexology, among others.

Some 242 OSYs from Tuburan and Sumisip towns benefited in the first phase of its implementation. For the second phase, the NFI is expecting at 70 out-of-school youth from Tuburan and Sumisip.

Jesus Tropezado, West Lamitan district supervisor, offered his full support for the project and expressed optimism the group will be able to agree on effective coordination mechanism to efficiently deliver services.

The NFI also announced that a donor country, Japan, is currently studying the putting up of proposed technical school in Lower Tablas village in Tuburan town. If approved, the school would provide technical training for the youth in the towns of Tuburan, Lamitan and Tipo-Tipo.

Teachers in Basilan were also elated about the donation of the GMA Kapuso Foundation, under its Unang Hakbang Program, which pledged to give 1,500 school bags and supplies to grade schoolers in the towns of Lamitan, Tipo-Tipo, Maluso, and Isabela City next month.

The NFI Foundation is a local organization advocating peace and development for Basilan.