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PASIG CITY, October 6, 2023 – The Department of Education (DepEd) lauds Filipinos who emerged victorious in the 1st Innovation for Disability-Inclusive Education Competition (iDIEC) 2023, a concurrent event of the 5th International Conference on Special Education (ICSE), held on October 4-5 2023 at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, Selangor, Malaysia.

With the theme, “Gearing Towards Disability-Inclusive Education Recovery,” the iDIEC 2023, organized by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Special Education Needs (SEAMEO SEN), promoted innovation in education, highlighting the need to leverage technological advancements to create inclusive learning environments for learners with disabilities.

Bayambang National High School of Schools Division Office (SDO) Pangasinan, Region 1, with Rafael P. Carungay, Gloria C. Magalong, Jurus T. Cabilin, Newton Pararzo, Ellyza Joy G. Junio, and Rich James B. Reloza as proponents, pocketed the Gold Award for Category C for their innovation, Pycharm IDE System: American Sign Language Alphabet Transcription to Text for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Learners.

Maribeth A. Baldonado, Jay C. Blancaflor, and Mark Julius Fuentes of SDO Roxas City in Region VI won the Silver Award-Category C with their Project Slim Pack (Special Children Learning Interactive Package).

Meanwhile, the Bronze Award was secured by Ric S. Tambogon, Elmark M. Joaquin, Raymond B. Tumapon, Macrino A. Raymundo, Jackielyn D. Ruiz, and Jeremy A. Cruz and their project members from various schools in the Philippines, for their innovations on digital technology utilization, learning materials development, competition alignment for employment, alternative learning, and extra-curricular programs.

Likewise, DepEd congratulates the Local Government of Carmona City with former Congresswoman Dahlia A. Loyola, Rosebelle L. Mercurio, and Cien Angela B. Baurile for garnering the Silver Award-Category D for their project, The Career Program: Paving the Way for Inclusive Education and Employment for Persons with Disability in the Municipality of Carmona, Philippines.

Also present during the event were Bureau of Learning Delivery (BLD) Director IV Leila P. Areola, who serves as a Governing Board Member of SEAMEO SEN, and Analyn A. Aquino, Senior Education Program Specialist of the BLD – Student Inclusion Division.

With the successful completion of the inaugural iDIEC 2023, participants are expected to continuously foster their ingenuity in inclusive education for learners with disabilities and inspire others to harness technological advancements to create learning environments that cater to individual needs.

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