MANILA, Philippines — An international jury has chosen the City Literacy Coordinating Council (CLCC) of Tagum City in Davao del Norte as this year’s Honorable Mention winner of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) King Sejong Literacy Prize.

CLCC was cited for its night market program which employs peace education activities, literacy teaching and business entrepreneurship to generate employment for the marginalized sector.

In the past, night market vendors in Tagum City positioned themselves anywhere they please and left mounds of garbage all over the place. This prompted City Mayor Rey Uy to introduce the night market program which gave small and medium entrepreneurs the opportunity to sustain their businesses in accordance with an ordinance on the revised code of economic enterprise of the city. The ordinance also offered a functional literacy program for the vendors which included lessons on values formation, literacy, health awareness, financial literacy and management, solid waste management and peace education.

The theme of this year’s UNESCO International Literacy Prizes is literacy and peace with special consideration to gender equality. It is awarded to individuals, governments or governmental agencies and non-government organizations in recognition of their effective practices and successful results in the field of literacy throughout the world. The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize was created in 1989 by the Republic of Korea.

C.E.U. topnotc her is also a TOSPian

After topping the recent Optometry board exams, Centro Escolar University alumnus Dr. Kendrick Nigel Tan reached another milestone as he was named one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP).

The TOSP award recognizes students who excel in academics, leadership, and social responsibility. TOSP is sponsored by RFM Foundation, Inc. and the Philippine Long Distance Company in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education-NCR and the Outstanding Students of the Philippines Alumni Community-NCR Chapter.

Dr. Tan was also a former student leader and a consistent dean’s lister of the CEU College of Optometry.

Mapúa dean gets recognition

The 9th Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies (EASTS) Conference in Jeju, Korea recently recognized three research papers made by Mapua Institute of Technology’s School of Civil Engineering and Environmental and Sanitary Engineering (CE-EnSE) dean Dr. Francis Aldrine Uy.

His works include “A Study on Motorcycle Rider Characteristics and Behavior in Metro Manila,” “Characteristics of Road Crashes Involving Motorcycles in Metro Manila and Other Selected Cities in the Philippines,” and “Study on the Vulnerability of Motorcycle Riders to Various Road Environmental Factors.”

Dr. Uy has a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering major in Transportation Engineering. His previous researches were on the behaviors of public utility vehicle drivers and adequacy of traffic control devices in Metro Manila, the evaluation of traffic management strategies in relation to vehicles’ fuel consumption and emission rates, and a concept paper of an intelligent transportation system that could be applied in the country. His expertise has also contributed to the implementation of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology by the Land Transportation Office and the design development system used by emission testing centers.

Seminar on best practices for employee dismissal set

The Center for Global Best Practices will hold a special seminar entitled, “Best Practices Guide to Valid Dismissal” on Oct. 7 at The Peninsula Manila in Makati city.

The seminar aims to educate and update business owners, administrators and HR and legal practitioners on the lawful dismissal of employees and prevent manpower problems.

Topics include the rights of employer and employee; substantive and procedural due process before dismissal; just causes for dismissal such as serious misconduct, sexual harassment, insubordination or wilful disobedience, neglect of duties, abandonment of work, fraud, and willful breach of trust and confidence and commission of a crime or offense.

Participants will also learn the concept of positive discipline, coaching, mentoring, how to implement the grievance machinery, use preventive suspension, and provide solutions to the most challenging and common problems encountered by management.

Lecturer is HR practitioner Atty. Elvin Villanueva, author of the book A Guide to Valid Dismissal of Employees. Lawyers who will attend the event will earn credit units for their Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) as accredited by the Supreme Court.

Pre-registration is required. For inquiries, call program leader Zennie Escudero at 842-7148/ 59 (Manila), (032) 512-3106/ 07 (Cebu) or email zennie@cgbp.org.

New place for students in Baguio opens

Kisad Peak Residences, a modern, newly-constructed residential complex for students and professionals in Baguio city will hold its soft opening on Sept. 1.

Located across Burnham Park, the property is developed byArcya Commercial Corporation. Sitting on top of a hill along Kisad Road, Kisad Peak has an unparalleled

view of Burnham Park and other landmarks. It is also near universities such as the University of the Philippines Baguio, St. Louis University, University of the Cordilleras, Baguio Central University and National University Baguio.

It is designed by Architect Jun Sebastian of the United Architects of the Philippines while property manager is Panya Go Boonsirithum. Administration head is Irish Levi Bawingan.