Children’s mural advocating for the safety and protection of children and other vulnerable road users unveiled

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Students of Gueco Balibago Elementary School in Angeles, Pampanga pose in front of a mural advocating children’s safety on the road.


Angeles City Government joined United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Philippines, Department of Education (DepEd), the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), and public interest law group ImagineLaw at Gueco Balibago Elementary School (GBES) in Angeles City, Pampanga on Monday to unveil a children’s mural advocating for the safety and protection of children and other vulnerable road users.


“This mural is our commitment to road safety and protecting children and all those who use the roads of the city,” said Kiko Pangilinan, head of Angeles City Traffic Development Office.


The mural carried the banner ‘Safe roads save children’s lives’ and celebrated Angeles City’s enactment of a comprehensive Road Safety Code early this year that invests 50 million pesos in road safety programs that include heightened enforcement and training, protected bike lanes, and speed guns, among others.


“We are also working with fellow government agencies, the academe, and organizations from the private sector and civil society to introduce interventions for safe school zones,” Pangilinan also said.


Road safety advocacy group ImagineLaw and UNICEF Philippines lauded Angeles City’s road safety initiatives. “Angeles City serves as a good example to other local government units (LGUs). We admire the political will of this city in protecting children and other vulnerable road users,” said Atty. Daphne Marcelo, road safety project manager of ImagineLaw. “Playing outside or going to school should not be a life-or-death situation for children,” she added.


“UNICEF believes that every child should survive and thrive in a healthy and safe environment. When we protect them against preventable road crashes, we provide them safe journeys to school and help them reach their full potential,” said Dr. Angelito Umali, program focal for the child road traffic injury prevention program of UNICEF Philippines.


Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), which supports road safety programs in the city, also participated in the event and committed to continue working with LGUs like Angeles City in ensuring the protection of children from road crashes.


The United Nations recently celebrated the Week of Action on Road Safety to mobilize broader commitments to road safety, with focus on sustainable transport and safe mobility.

PHLPost marks 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and Nationhood with Postage Stamps

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Even during these difficult times, postage stamps continue to be the source of inspiration, courage and patriotism among Filipinos.

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) will issue stamps on June 12, 2023, in support of the commemoration of the 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and Nationhood.

PHLPost has been at the forefront in the protection, preservation and conservation of history and culture through the issuance of postage stamps that have been widely recognized here and abroad.

“ As we commemorate the sacrifices and triumphs of our forebears, In the face of adversity, our people at PHLPost will rise from the ashes and become resilient and strong”, said Postmaster General Luis D. Carlos.

The historic Manila Central Post Office Building was recently destroyed by fire leaving its documents and equipment burned to the ground.

“We are saddened by this unfortunate incident, but we are lucky to have salvaged some important stamps. We are now in the process of retrieving valuable and historic items placed in our stamp vault which were left unharmed during the fire”, he said.

On June 12, 2023, the country marked 125 years since Philippine Independence was proclaimed in Kawit, Cavite. This year’s Independence Day carries the theme:, “Kalayaan. Kinabukasan at Kasaysayan.” (Freedom, Future and History.)

This stamp issuance intends to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the birth of the Philippine Flag. The se-tenant pair features two important moments in our history: The Sewing of the Philippine Flag by Marcela and Lorenza Agoncillo, and Delfina Herbosa Natividad in Hong Kong, and when Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine Independence with the very same flag proudly raised at the Aguinaldo residence (now the Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine) during the Declaration of Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898. The official logo for the 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and Nationhood appears on the official first day cover.

The beauty, uniqueness and special significance of commemorative stamps, continue to be a source of fascination and of great value to collectors.

PHLPost has printed 40,000 copies sold at P16 each of the two different designs of the stamps. PHLPost in-house graphic artist Israel Viyo layout the historic stamps.

Stamps and official first-day covers are now available near the 4th Floor of SM City Manila Postal Counter located at Conception Street Corner San Marcelino or visit https://www.facebook.com/PilipinasPhilately/ for updates.

DepEd joins Philippine Book Festival, promotes access to quality reading materials

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Promoting access to quality reading materials, the Department of Education (DepEd) participated in the Philippine Book Festival held in World Trade Center Manila from June 2 to 4, 2023.

Spearheaded by the National Book Development Board (NBDB), one of the Department’s attached agencies, the Philippine Book Festival aims to highlight Filipino books and features Philippine literature, culture, and other contents.

“We have been considering the need to more effectively streamline our book and educational material purchases for many years. We are joining NBDB and its partner organizations at the first Philippine Book Festival in this spirit, and as a result of the Festival’s creation to specifically highlight the range and depth of our books and the diversity of our national voices,” Undersecretary for Curriculum and Teaching Gina Gonong said in her opening remarks.

The Philippine Book Festival also serves as a venue for DepEd teaching and non-teaching personnel to conduct market scoping for supplementary learning resources in various grade levels as part of its vision to provide quality materials for learners.

DepEd also featured learning resources, such as storybooks and digital learning materials from its Learning Resource Portal (LRP) developed by teachers and field implementers.

“The National Book Development Board is here with you to ensure that we have access to reading materials for us. It is time to give our voice primacy. It is our time, and we have to do it now,” NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade noted.

The Philippine Book Festival is the largest traveling book festival in the Philippines that features local book publishers and authors. Participants can also join the various workshops and exhibit on reading, book writing, and storytelling, among others.

Interested participants can join and get their free tickets at: philippinebookfest.com.