The DUNONG Program held its Partners’ Night at the Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman, on April 3, 2025, to engage collaborators from the private sector who can help sustain the program’s efforts in addressing learning poverty in the country.

DUNONG, or Department of Education-Laguna and UPLB: Nurturing Opportunities for the Next Generation Towards Ending Learning Poverty in the Philippines, aims to reduce learning poverty, where as many as 9 out of 10 ten-year-old children cannot or struggle to read.

Leaders from the private industry and non-governmental organizations attended the DUNONG Partners’ Night. Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. introduced to them the program, where he discussed DUNONG’s approach to addressing learning poverty through its three components:  Reading Enhancement and Appreciation Development (READ), Cultivating Bright Futures for Young Minds through Proper Nutrition (Nutri-Nurture), and Teacher’s Capacity Building on Organic Agriculture (TEACH-OA).

Through these projects, DUNONG aims to address learning poverty through its root causes of poverty, health and nutrition, education quality, and social and cultural issues.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara responded on behalf of DepEd, expressing support for the program and recognizing the efforts of its members for the students.

A fireside chat led by Pahinungod director Jose Limbay Lahi O. Espaldon further explored the program’s impact and future.

Dr. Karol Mark Yee, executive director of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), Dr. Maria Cynthia Rose B. Bautista, former Vice President for Academic Affairs of the University of the Philippines and member of the EDCOM 2 advisory council, and Atty. Alberto T. Escobarte, regional director of the Department of Education—Reg. IV-A CALABARZON, joined the panel.

Also joining the conversation was Vincent Jhay Monteverde, a pupil from Maahas Elementary School, and his teacher and DUNONG focal person, Jasmin Agraan.

After the fireside chat, Chancellor Camacho led the guests and participants in signing the covenant wall, which signified their cooperation and support in the DUNONG Program.

The DUNONG Program was launched in February 2024 and has since been conducting training and remedial reading sessions with its twelve partner schools in Laguna. (Jessa Jael S. Arana)