In observance of National School Safety Week, Schools Division Superintendent (SDS)Manuel Caberte led the division’s commitment to fostering a secure, supportive, and child-friendly learning environment during the Flag Raising Ceremony and Monday Morning Sharing (MMS) on October 12, 2026. As part of the program, SDS Caberte formally affixed his signature to the pledge wall titled “Panata ng Buong Komunidad Para sa Mas Ligtas na Paaralan”. The ceremonial signing highlights DepEd’s continuous push to protect students’ welfare, dignity, and rights across all learning centers.

In his address following the ceremony, SDS Caberte emphasized that symbolic pledges must be backed by concrete actions and sustained commitment. Addressing local education leaders, office heads, and staff, he called for heightened operational efficiency, strict document compliance, and proactive disaster response measures as the division prepares for upcoming regional assessments and environmental challenges.

Key Highlights from SDS Caberte’s Address

Catch-Up Plans and Document Compliance: Reflecting on the remaining months of the operational period, SDS Caberte instructed all offices to review planned activities against actual accomplishments. He called for immediate catch-up plans to address lagging targets and urged staff to maintain consistency rather than relying on rush preparations. He specifically highlighted the necessity of updating all official forms, headers, and footers to conform with the latest DepEd document templates.

Pre-Validation and Quality Assurance: To ensure readiness for the upcoming Regional Validation Team visit scheduled for the end of the month, the division will conduct internal mock validations across all offices. SDS Caberte directed the Knowledge Management and Quality Assurance teams to strictly screen and monitor non-compliant document submissions.

Strengthening LGU Partnerships: SDS Caberte commended the strong collaboration between DepEd and local government units (LGUs) across the division, noting the visible support of municipal mayors during recent state of the municipality addresses. He encouraged Public Schools District Supervisors (PSDSs) to actively present the current state of district education to local chief executives to align community resources with school needs.

El Niño and Disaster Preparedness: Addressing the dual challenge of localized rains and extreme heat driven by El Niño, SDS Caberte reminded administrators to prioritize contingency plans—particularly regarding water supply management in schools—to guarantee safe and uninterrupted learning environments.

Through these unified initiatives—ranging from official pledges to grounded administrative action—the division continues to build a resilient foundation for safe, effective, and quality education. FADones