Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Friday lauded the Philippine Book Festival, the “largest traveling book festival in the country,” as it was important for the programs of the Department of Education.
In her speech on the festival’s opening, Duterte said the festival was important given the recent launching of the MATATAG K-10 curriculum.
Among the features of the recalibrated curriculum is the reduction in the number of subjects, with greater emphasis on the development of Kinder to Grade 3 learners’ foundational skills—such as literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills.
“Our direction is not only for our learners to possess the power of writing and reading, but, most importantly, for them to value this power as it could help them navigate life successfully,” Duterte said in a statement.
“Our campaign necessitates rekindling our learners’ interest in the written word through reading books and other materials that could ignite their curiosity, give space for their creativity, and nurture their intellect,” she added.
Duterte also called on the industry to “nurture the seeds of knowledge” that will “yield a bountiful harvest for generations to come.”
“May this festival illuminate our path toward a strong Philippines—where the pages of our shared story are etched with the enduring ink of knowledge, wisdom, and inspiration,” she said.
The festival will run from August 18 to August 20. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
