BAGUIO CITY – The city council requested the Dept. of Education Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) to include retreats, recollections and other character-enhancing activities in the local educational curriculum of schools in the city.
In Resolution No. 84 series of 2019 authored by Councilor Lilia Farinas and approved by Mayor Mauricio Domogan, the body noted that the Character City program of Baguio encourages character building in schools, businesses, churches, city government, media, community groups and families and these institutions are encouraged to support and contribute to the achievement of the goal of the program.
“The Baguio Character Council is mandated to work towards instilling positive values in all aspects of human endeavor in schools, businesses, churches, barangays, media, community groups, families, government and non-government organizations; positive character to the citizenry; and to further manifest the vision of the city as clean, green, God-loving and progressive city, among others,” the resolution noted.
“In order to foster the development of the citizenry, especially the youths to become well-rounded and persons of character, it is vital to target not only their mental, physical and emotional attributes, but their spiritual aspect as well.”
The body said recollections, retreats and other character enhancing activities are geared towards developing the spiritual aspect of participants thus, there is a need to support the efforts of the Baguio Character Council by including such activities in the local educational curriculum of schools in Baguio City with the indulgence and support of the Schools Division of Baguio City, DepEd-CAR.
“For its implementation, the schools shall take into consideration the religious belief of students and shall make the activities as ecumenical in nature or as otherwise accommodating of such faith without prejudice, and that no belief shall be forcefully imposed unto them,” the measure stressed. **Aileen P. Refuerzo
