Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday urged publishing companies to continue in their pursuit as she acknowledged their roles in nurturing the "seeds of knowledge."
"Let us nurture the seeds of knowledge that, when planted today, will yield a bountiful harvest for generations to come," Duterte said as she graced the opening of the Philippine Book Festival in Davao City.
In making her call, the Vice President noted the significance of books as well as the authors behind it in sharing knowledge and expertise to the people, giving inspiration and entertaining the people through stories.
That is where the Department of Education (DepEd) also puts importance, Duterte, DepEd chief, said.
"Recently, we launched the MATATAG Curriculum with great emphasis on basic competencies, including writing, reading—and comprehension," she said.
"Over the past few years, we have seen a painful decline in the ability of our young learners to read and write," she added.
She said the MATATAG Curriculum is a revised and improved version of the K to 10 program to correct the latter’s flaws that affected the learners’ writing and reading skills.
"Our direction is not only for our learners to possess the power of writing and reading—but, most importantly, for them to value this power as it could help them navigate life successfully," she said.
"Our campaign necessitates rekindling our learners’ interest in the written word through reading books and other materials that could ignite their curiosity, give space for their creativity, and nurture their intellect," she added.
Duterte called on publishers and authors to stand united to foster a lifelong learning and a culture that “embraces diversity, empowers minds, and sparks the flames of imagination.”
The recent book festival, she said, proves the important role of books in people’s lives and in the nation.
"May this festival illuminate our path toward a strong Philippines—where the pages of our shared story are etched with the enduring ink of knowledge, wisdom, and inspiration," she added.
