THE Philippine Educators Association of Cesos and Eligibles Inc. (PEACE) is a nonstock, nonprofit organization of Career Executive Service Officers (Ceso) and career executive service (CES) eligibles in the Department of Education (DepEd). PEACE is a member of the National Union of Career Executive Service Officers (Nuceso), an organization of all regional and department Ceso organizations.
The CES the “third level,” or the managerial class, in the group of career positions in the Philippine civil service. The CES was created by Presidential Decree 1 to “form a continuing pool of well-selected and development-oriented career administrators, who shall provide competent and faithful service.” The positions covered by the CES are the undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and directors. In case of the DepEd, this also includes the schools division superintendents and assistant schools division superintendents. From November 10 to 12, PEACE Inc. held its second general assembly at Ecotech Center, Lahug, Cebu City. Prior to this assembly, PEACE launched its “Bisikleta para sa Mag-aaral” project (in support of the DepEd’s “Pedals and Paddles” project), which is a campaign to solicit bikes to be given to our children in far-flung schools to enhance their access to education. During the launch, PEACE donated at least 18 bicycles to students of Lusaran National High School in Cebu City.
One of the objectives of the DepEd’s Pedals and Paddles Project is to “ease the travel time of students through the distribution of boats and bicycles to communities that need those most.” In turn, we hope that, through Pedals and Paddles, we encourage students to attend school and perform better.
Education Secretary Bro. Armin A. Luistro, FSC, emphasized that DepEd is “committed to the delivery of quality basic education to Filipino learners, especially to those who live in areas where transportation remains a challenge.” In coordination with the office of Education Undersecretary Mario Derequito, PEACE intends to give more bicycles to our public-secondary students nationwide, who have to walk long distances to go to school. Priority shall be given to public-secondary students as there are a lesser number of public high schools nationwide (compared to the number of public elementary schools) and our high-school students are more qualified and capable to ride bikes (compared to our elementary students).
The DepEd has partnered with the Bikes for the Philippines Foundation for this project. The implementation system for this project is “1. Invite public high schools to submit a letter of application, along with a list of students in need of bikes and the needed documentary requirements, such as copy of their report cards and a photo; 2. Interview the students on the list; 3. Send a request to Bikes for the World and wait for the shipment to arrive; 4. When the shipment arrives, sort the bikes and determine what type of repairs will be needed; 5. After the minor repairs, ship the bikes to the school where they will be deployed; 6. Conduct training for the bike users; and 7. Deployment of bikes—with assigned bike number, photo of each student with his/her bike, signed agreement, etc.”
Congratulations to PEACE Inc. (and Nuceso, which is very supportive of PEACE projects) for their Bisikleta para sa Mag-aaral project.
Lawyer Toni Umali is the current assistant secretary for legal and legislative affairs of the DepEd. He is licensed to practice law not only in the Philippines, but also in the State of California and some Federal Courts in the United States of America after passing the California State Bar Examinations in 2004.
He is also a member of the National Board of theNuceso, an organization of Ceso comprising the third level, or the managerial class in the group of career positions in the Philippine civil service.
He has served as legal consultant to several legislators and local chief executives. he was instrumental in the passage of the K to 12 and the issuance of its implementing rules and regulations. He is also the alternate spokesman of the DepEd.