City mayors’ group backs K-to-12 program

Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama. (CDN FILE PHOTO)

The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) is supporting the implementation of the K-to-12 program of the national government, which adds two more years to secondary education.

In a statement, which was initially signed by 11 city mayors all over the country, the LCP said that despite the apprehensions of some sectors, they will still support the program which will be implemented by the national government through the Department of Education.

The city mayors said senior high school, which will start next year, is a significant component of the basic and necessary education reform.

“We acknowledge that the additional two years of secondary education may appear to be costly and cumbersome for majority of the Filipino families, but we are confident that senior high school is critical for enhancing the capacity of young learners to make informed life and career choices,” the LCP said in a statement.

Among those who signed the statement are LCP national president and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Rama, who announced the city mayors’ organization’s backing yesterday, said the decision was reached in the last few months.

Rama said only 11 mayors signed the statement because they are the “pilot mayors” who support the program.

He said these  included Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno, LCP national chairman;  Marikina City Mayor Del De Guzman, LCP secretary general; and Dipolog City Mayor Evelyn Uy, LCP vice president for Mindanao.