Albay province, known for Governor Joey Sarte Salceda administration’s thrust to have at least one college graduate in each Albayano family lauded Efren Peñaflorida, the Cable News Network (CNN) hero of the year, for extending exemplary help to poor students off of the streets.

His reward, though, does not end there as the province confers Peñaflorida the highest provincial honor possible and a cash gift of P250,000. Salceda said that Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a provincial resolution on Tuesday (November 24) giving the highest honor possible to Peñaflorida, including the cash gift and making him honorary son of Albay.

As chair of the Regional Development Council (RDC), Salceda also said the council will make similar commendation and circulate the success stories so his person and his good work will be emulated. The Education Quality for the Albayanos (EQUAL), a duly institutionalized educational department under the office of the governor was tasked to give the special award to Peñaflorida and hold testimonials and invite him to the annual teachers’ night to inspire teachers in Albay.

Efren Peñaflorida Jr receives CNN Hero of the Year award

“His sense of civic duty should inspire citizens, reignite hope for our nation but remind public servants to bring services closer to the people and more importantly to employ political will and local leadership and to increase resource commitments to basic education system so that there would be no need for’Kariton Klasrums’ (classrooms on push carts),” Salceda said.

“Albay needs Peñaflorida especially among the teachers but his’Karitons’ do challenge the province to step up efforts to increase participation rate, cohort survival and achievement rates in elementary and high school with 14 local government units should rise up to Peñaflorida’s challenge that won’t need to take the street push carts just to provide education to the marginalized child sector,” Salceda added.

“Peñaflorida’s unique ingenuity has resounded the Filipino people’s need for practicality in providing basic education even without the need for buildings for as long as the heroism is there,” observed several school teachers here. Experts in the academe said that the basic education is so important that it lays down foundations for learning and further development into useful citizens.

Source: Albay honors CNN Hero of the Year, by MA Loterte, Philippine Information Agency, December 1, 2009. Accessed December 2, 2009.