Antipolo bags prestigious literacy award
by Konneksiyon, June 25-July 01, 2002

Antipolo City bagged the Grand Slam Award in the recently concluded "Search for the Best Literacy Program in Local Government Unit" in the country.

Antipolo garnered the highest points in formal and non-formal education in the contest conducted by the Department of Education and the National Literary Council.

The victory can be attributed to Mayor Angelito Gatlabayan's programs, through the support of his wife, Josefina, and other members of the Antipolo Literacy Board, such as Mobile Library, Reading Centers and more livelihood projects, in addition to previous projects.

In an interview, the mayor acknowledged all the NGOs that are helping the city government in pursuing the aim of eradicating illiteracy in the city.

"Sa ngayon maraming NGOs ang tumutulong sa amin.   Rotary Clubs are giving us computers, water system sa mga school at mga upuan, Kiwanis Club is giving us books, providing library for the city and other soroptomists are giving books also,"  Gatlabayan pointed out.

Aside from NGOs, Gatlabayang announced some big companies like Solid Cement are also helping Antipolo's literacy drive.

"May malaki ring kumpanya sa Antipolo na tumutulong sa amin gaya ng Solid Cement which is giving us several computers for our non-formal education," he said.

Earlier, the World Medical Relief Organization donataed over $1 million worth of medical equipment to the Antipolo Government.

City officials went to Detroit, Michigan, the main office of the relief organization, to talk with the relief organization officers regarding their request for medical equipment.

The officials said the donation would augment the city's medical supplies.

The medical equipment arrived last June 6 aboard in two container vans consisting of hospital beds, hospital mattresses, examination table, wheel chairs, suction machin, breathing therapy machine, EKG machine, various laboratory supplies and patient care liquids.

Gatlabayan said the City Community Hospital would use the equipment, while the city government is planning to build a new hospital or medical center.

Aside from this, the World Medical Relief expressed willingness to donate medical equipment for the would-be constructed medical center.

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