SORSOGON CITY — In a landmark gathering that fused strategic governance with heartfelt educational advocacy, the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Sorsogon City successfully conducted its 2026 Strategic Gender and Development (GAD) Planning and Budgeting Workshop at Clover Leaf Place, Cabid-an.
The jam-packed event brought together the division’s top brass, including school heads and SDO personnel, for a comprehensive session aimed at institutionalizing gender mainstreaming pursuant to Republic Act No. 9710 (Magna Carta of Women).
A Twist in Intervention: Project SIR
The highlight of the assembly was the official launching of Project SIR (Super Intensive Reading). In a poignant twist on the traditional instructional hierarchy, the project operates under the mantra that “those who inspire must teach.” Rather than viewing intervention as a purely administrative task, Project SIR positions the division’s most inspiring leaders and mentors at the forefront of the classroom, ensuring that the most vulnerable readers are reached by those with the greatest power to motivate.
Prioritizing Employee Wellness
Aligning with DepEd Order No. 2, s. 2026 Guidelines on the Grant of Wellness Leave for the Department of Education Personnel, the workshop placed a heavy emphasis on the holistic wellness of all employees.
The leadership underscored that a productive division starts with healthy personnel, placing a special focus on the physical and mental well-being of female employees. To further streamline the work-life balance and modernize administrative burdens, the SDO also officially launched its new Online Leave Filing System, transitioning the division toward a more efficient, paperless future.
“We are not just planning for budgets; we are planning for people,” noted the Office of the Schools Division Superintendent. “When we take care of our teachers and staff, we take care of our learners.”
High-Profile Inspiration
The energy of the event was further bolstered by a special guest visit from Mr. Ronnie Baldos, Pasig City GAD Chief. Baldos shared best practices from Pasig’s renowned GAD programs, offering a fresh perspective on how to bridge the gap between policy and community impact.
The atmosphere remained electric as 83 school heads and various focal persons collaborated on HGDG attribution and strategic funding. Under the leadership of William E. Gando, CESO VI, the SDO Sorsogon City continues to prove that strategic planning is most effective when it is paired with innovation and a deep-seated care for its workforce.
The activity was capped by a team-building activity reflecting the appreciation of life, leadership, and love through sharing of music and stories through a life of commitment and service.
