Officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) led the groundbreaking ceremony of the National Educators' Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) - Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) extension building.

(Photo courtesy of DepEd)

“Cordillera is continuing the tradition of being a center for inspiration, research, and looking into new things,” Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.

Led by Briones, Central and Regional officials of DepEd conducted a field visit in Benguet last week.

“We are very happy that the region is proactive in assisting our teachers with their professional development,” Briones said.

“All of these will be taking place in this facility, and I am very grateful to our Cordillera people. I am very grateful to the support of the local governments and especially the efforts of our regional directors,” she added.

The establishment of the three-story building amounting to P32-million is part of the partnership of NEAP-CAR and NEAP-Baguio in improving buildings and facilities in the province to help the teachers and education leaders in their upskilling activities.

DepEd said that NEAP Cordillera facilities shall also open its doors to Senior High School (SHS) learners as a safe and competent avenue to undergo their work immersion as part of implementing the department's K to 12 program.

Aside from developing NEAP-handled facilities, DepEd said that NEAP-Baguio and NEAP-CAR shall collectively collaborate towards synergistic sharing of facility and resources towards the successful delivery of quality primary education in the new normal.

“The cooperation that we have with DepEd CAR and NEAP is part of a major reform that was directed by the Secretary as soon as she came into office,” Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Nepomuceno Malaluan said.

Malaluan said that DepEd asked Regional Director Estela Cariño to institutionalize the cooperation between NEAP-Baguio Teachers Camp and NEAP-CAR “to be able to share our facilities mutually, but it must be the exclusive benefit of the professional development of our teachers and school leaders.”

Meanwhile, DepEd Assistant Secretary for Youth Affairs and Special Concerns Juan Valeriano Respicio IV, Head Executive Assistant and BHROD Director III Nina Bianca Sanglay, DepEd CAR Director Cariño, and Assistant Regional Director Florante Vergara also attended the said program.

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DepEd inaugurates NEAP building in Cordillera region