DAVAO CITY — Vice President Sara Duterte and personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 12 on Sunday recognized partners and stakeholders who made the ‘Pahalipay sa Ramadan’ a success.

A total of 37,369 food packs were distributed to employees in 11 schools divisions and in the regional office.

The recipients of the food packs were the teaching, non-teaching, para-teachers, and Islamic Studies and Arabic Language teachers in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao provinces (BARMM) of Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

In a video message, Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) head Mohagher Iqbal thanked the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and DepEd for the food packs to the teaching and non-teaching personnel of 11 schools division in the BARMM.

“We sincerely appreciate this initiative,” he said.

The Vice President, who was guest of honor in the recognition ceremony, expressed her gratitude to the stakeholders especially the units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for their commitment in helping the OVP and DepEd reach out to fellow Filipinos during the observance of Ramadan.

“Without the support of the Philippine Army, Navy, Air Force, the Joint Task Forces, and all the women and men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, DepEd would not have reached all 37,369 personnel of the MBHTE on time,” she heartily expressed.

“Your assistance, whether in times of plenty or crisis, proves your commitment to protecting our country’s national security and ensuring the well-being of all Filipinos,” she added.

Duterte, who brought DepEd’s MATATAG agenda to develop schoolchildren to become patriotic and responsible pillars of national development, assured the men and women in uniform that DepEd and the OVP ”stand beside you in your work.”

“Rest assured that the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education are working hard to reinforce your peace building efforts in conflict-affected communities through the impending rollout of the Peace 911 program and the integration of a national peace curriculum in our basic education system,” she said.

Aside from the AFP, the Vice President also thanked private partners who shared their resources to provide for our Muslim brothers and sisters.