DepEd Press Release (Stronger, safer schools for learners and teachers through DepEd–UP Disaster Resilience partnership)

 

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Stronger, safer schools for learners and teachers through DepEd–UP Disaster Resilience partnership

 

MAKATI CITY, 19 January 2026 — Public school Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) coordinators, teachers, and learners nationwide are set to immediately benefit from new disaster preparedness training and science-based tools following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Department of Education and the University of the Philippines recently in Diliman, Quezon City. 

The partnership is intended to address persistent gaps faced by schools in disaster-prone areas, particularly the lack of localized hazard data, structured training, and coordinated emergency protocols, which often leaves teachers and learners vulnerable during floods, earthquakes, and other calamities.  

Under the agreement, UP will provide technical and scientific expertise to support DepEd’s disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and emergency response efforts across public schools nationwide. 
 

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the partnership aims to ensure that schools are better prepared before disasters strike, so learning disruptions are minimized.

“Hindi dapat napuputol ang pagkatuto dahil lang sa kakulangan ng paghahanda. Sa tulong ng UP, through its research and public service mandate, masisiguro nating handa ang ating mga guro at mag-aaral. May tamang kaalaman, datos, at sistema para manatiling ligtas at makabangon agad kapag may sakuna,” Angara said.

As an immediate step of the partnership, DepEd is encouraging DRRM coordinators nationwide to enroll in the relaunched Fundamentals of Resilience Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offered by the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) in partnership with UP Open University. The free, fully online courses will run from January 26 to February 20, 2026, and will cover the basics of resilience as well as hazard and risk assessment.

UP President Angelo Jimenez said the collaboration underscores the role of UP, as the national university, in protecting learners and teachers, especially as climate-related risks intensify.  

The partnership will be implemented through the UPRI, led by Executive Director Mahar Lagmay, which will support DepEd in conducting multi-hazard risk assessments, developing localized hazard maps, integrating disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation modules into learning platforms, and designing a digital hazard risk platform and monitoring systems. 
 

For DepEd schools, the immediate impact is clearer access to training, data, and tools that make disaster preparedness more practical, reducing uncertainty for teachers and helping ensure that learners can return to safe classrooms as quickly as possible after emergencies.

Student nurse-filmmaker makes it three in a row at Sine Negrense

 

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A senior Nursing student at the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod has competed at the Sine Negrense: The Negros Island Film Festival for three consecutive years.

Chelsea Tasic’s streak began in 2023 with “Dalit sa Sala,” a social commentary produced by Dulaab Productions. Despite the ambitious nature of the project – which involved a complex two-day shoot on a moving bus – the film resonated deeply with audiences.

The film earned eight nominations and secured the People’s Choice Award and a special citation for its compelling narrative at Sine Negrense that year.

In 2024, Tasic was selected as one of ten directors for the inaugural Bacolod Film Festival. Her entry, “A Flower A Day,” competed in the Sine Negrense Open Category.

Set in a rundown cafe, the story follows a young woman who routinely visits with a different flower, sparking the curiosity of a local barista.

The film received eight nominations at Sine Negrense and won Best Musical Score at BFF in 2024, further cementing Tasic’s reputation as a rising storyteller in the region.

Tasic returned to Sine Negrense in 2025 with her latest work, “Isa ka Higayon,” competing in the Intercollegiate Category. The film explores themes of closure and the afterlife through the lens of local Bacolod culture.

Lola Sonia, a seamstress in downtown Bacolod, prepares for her chance to make up for a late loved one. But as her journey progresses, thoughts about what her decision will bring begin to hold her back. When life presents you a chance to finally achieve the closure you've always wanted, would it truly set you free or bind you to a deeper longing?

“Isa ka Higayon” was recently screened at the Dinagyang edition of the CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival held at the FDCP Cinematheque Centre Iloilo.

For Tasic, filmmaking is more than a creative outlet – it is a vessel for raw, genuine human experiences.

Her journey as a filmmaker began in senior high school at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, where she directed the award-winning shorts “Piyesa” (2021) and “Litrato” (2022).

Today, she views her success as a reminder to revisit our roots and highlight the richness and realities of life in Negros.

Balancing her calling in both nursing and filmmaking, Tasic continues to create stories and visual projects that portray raw, genuine human experiences.

Sine Negrense, an annual celebration of local filmmaking that provides a platform to showcase the works of Negrense filmmakers, ran from December 3 to 6 at the FDCP Cinematheque Centre Negros. The awarding ceremony is tentatively scheduled to be held next month.

Practitioner-prof inspires UE Fine Arts seniors with production insights

 

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Producer, production manager, film festival coordinator, and educator Kristin Bactad-Jor recently shared her industry experience with University of the East-Caloocan Visual Communication senior students during a talk at the Chua King Ha Gallery.

Drawing from nearly two decades of practice, Bactad-Jor shared her knowledge and tips on producing films, production management, and the complexities of film festival operations.

Since joining Red Room Media Productions in 2006, Bactad-Jor has established herself as an integral part of several film productions. Her career is defined by a commitment to advocacy-driven storytelling, spanning short films, documentaries, and high-impact video projects.

Bactad-Jor has worked on numerous projects, including collaborations with institutions such as the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, GMA News TV, Techtales Asia-Pacific, and the Bacolod City Government Center. She has served as line producer and production manager for award-winning films and documentaries produced under some of these partnerships.

Beyond management, she has also explored the creative helm. In 2018, she wrote and directed the short film “Playground,” which earned 1st Runner-Up and Best Actor honors at the 3rd Makati Film Festival for Anti-Drug Campaign.

Bactad-Jor’s influence extends into the organizational architecture of Philippine cinema. She served on the executive committee of the 3rd ToFarm Film Festival in 2018.

In 2024, she played a pivotal role as the film festival coordinator for the inaugural Bacolod Film Festival, where she guided 10 short film grantees through the entire filmmaking lifecycle, from preproduction to their premiere screenings.

Bactad-Jor, who currently teaches under the Digital Cinema track at the Far Eastern University Department of Communication, remains dedicated to lifelong learning. She has refined her craft under industry legends, completing workshops with Dr. Clodualdo “Doy” del Mundo, Jr. and award-winning filmmaker Raymond Red.

Her talk at the Chua King Ha Gallery served as a vital bridge for students, translating academic concepts into real-world professional practice. By sharing her journey, she offered UE Fine Arts students a roadmap for navigating the evolving media landscape.