The Department of Education (DepEd IX), Zamboanga Peninsula (ZamPen) will finally take its turn to host a landmark activity, the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) dubbed as “Strengthening Freedom of Information through Campus Journalism” at Pagadian City on Jan. 23-26 and is expected to stand off more or less 5,000 participants including officials and the National Technical Working Group.
The journalism competition will be graced by DepEd Secretary, Leonor Briones, Undersecretary for Administration, Alain Del Pascua, Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction, Dina Ocampo, Assistant Secretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs, Tonisito Umali, and Undersecretary for Accounting and Employee Account Management Division, Victoria Catibog.
DepED RO IX Regional Director, Dr. Isabelita Borres made a series of consultations as part of the preparation along with the DepEd Regional Officials, Schools Division Superintendents as well as local government officials as the said occasion requires synergy and collaboration with them.
The Governor of Zamboanga del Sur Antonio Cerilles and Pagadian City Mayor Romeo Pulmones have already expressed their intent to support the hosting of the Press Conference.
It was not the first time of DepEd IX to host the NSPC in the course of history though it can be noted that its first holding was yet on Jan. 19-23, 1964 which was followed on Feb. 18-22, 1985 and to date on Jan. 23-26 which obviously the gap of its occurrence was outlying 21 and 32 years.
Briones expressed in one of her speeches that “we have the right to know what is going on, the right to know of the developments but remembering that freedom always comes with accountability and responsibility that entails being truthful, accurate and unbiased.” She further encouraged students to write more stories that would ignite nationalism and cultural pride.
Meanwhile, Pascua pointed out in his message that “knowledge is not meant to be kept, instead it should be nurtured for everyone else to also learn from and appreciate.”
On the other hand, Ocampo in her NSPC message emphasized “the highest standards of journalism that will allow information that leads to genuine public enlightenment.” In addition she stressed that, “when people have access to information, they are encourage to actively participate in decisions that will affect them.”
The writer’s festival will feature different categories in journalism both in elementary and secondary.
NSPC is an activity pursuant to RA 7079 known as the “Campus Journalism Act” which advocates free and responsible journalism at the school level. It encourages students to practice and hone their journalistic skills in writing and critical thinking while strengthening their ethical values and developing discipline.
The conference activities Include-Individual Contest; Radio Script Writing and Broadcasting Contests; Collaborative Desktop Publishing Contest; Online Publishing Contest (exhibition for secondary level); and TV Script Writing and Broadcasting Contests (for secondary level). (pr)
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