SU TEVEC produces 246 JDVP-TVL graduates from 7 SHSs in Negros Oriental

Some senior high school students and JDVP-TVL graduates from San Miguel National High School in Bacong, Negros Oriental, pose outside the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium while waiting for their graduation procession.

Two hundred forty-six (246) Joint Delivery Voucher Program – Technical Vocational Livelihood (JDVP-TVL) senior high school (SHS) students from seven (7) public schools in Negros Oriental graduated from four (4) Silliman University Technical, Educational, Vocational, Entrepreneurial Center (SU TEVEC) National Certificate (NC) programs during the 36th SU TEVEC Graduation Ceremony at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium on May 14, 2024.

Senior high school students (back) from Buntod National High School in Bacong, Negros Oriental, pose with their national certificates in Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II. Together with them (left to right) are Dr. Antonio B. Baguio, DepEd Education Program Supervisor; Dr. Warlito S. Caturay Jr., Office of Media and Public Affairs (OMPA) chief; Dr. Giovanni T. Macahig, Office of Registration and Records Management (ORRM) officer; Blanchie M. Utzurrum, SU TEVEC head; Dr. Neri C. Ojastro, DepEd School Division Superintendent, Negros Oriental Division; Dr. Earl Jude Paul L. Cleope, SU vice president for Academic Affairs (VPAA); Dr. Edna Gladys T. Calingacion, Office of Student Services (OSS) dean; and Rev. Jonathan R. Pia, SU Church minister and senior pastor.

The combined 246 graduates came from Bago National High School in Tayasan (30), Buntod National High School in Bacong (14), Dahile Provincial Community High School in Mabinay (34), Demetrio L. Alviola National High School in Bindoy (44), Manjuyod National High School in Manjuyod (39), Mantiquil Masaligan High School in Siaton (24), and San Miguel National High School in Bacong (61).

The JDVP-TVL is a tuition fee assistance to Grade 12 students in the Department of Education (DepEd) public SHSs, which have been identified as having inadequate facilities, equipment, tools, and teachers relevant to the implementation of TVL specializations. This tuition assistance is in the form of a voucher given to learner-beneficiaries, which enables them to cross-enroll in eligible private SHSs, non-DepEd public SHSs, or, in this case, private TVIs or JDVP-TVL partners like SU.

Senior high school students (front and back rows) from Demetrio L. Alviola National High School in Bindoy, Negros Oriental, pose with their certificates in Organic Agriculture Production NC II.

Under the leadership of Blanchie M. Utzurrum, SU TEVEC head, the center offered the 40-day JDVP-TVL program which included national certification (NC) courses for Animal Production (Swine) NC II (62 graduates), Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II (66 graduates), Cookery NC II (50 graduates), and Organic Agriculture Production NC II (68 graduates).

Senior high school students (front and back rows) from Manjuyod National High School in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental, pose with their certificates in Cookery NC II.

Dr. Earl Jude Paul L. Cleope, SU vice president for Academic Affairs (VPAA), who declared them candidates for graduation, reminded the students to “strive for excellence in the work that you do, embrace change, and be open to challenges.”

Dr. Earl Jude Paul L. Cleope reads from his congratulatory message to the graduates.

“More importantly, remember the value of compassion, empathy, and collaboration. Always strive to uplift those around you, contribute to your community, and make a positive impact on the world,” he added.

Senior high school students (front and back rows) from Bago National High School in Tayasan, Negros Oriental, pose with their certificates in Animal Production (Swine) NC II.

Cleope also thanked SU’s partners, TESDA and DepEd, and all the trainers who “helped shape the new leaders and innovators before us today.”

Dr. Earl Jude Paul L. Cleope (left), SU VPAA; Dr. Neri C. Ojastro (center), DepEd School Division Superintendent, Negros Oriental; and Dr. Antonio B. Baguio (right), DepEd Education Program Supervisor, pose after Ojastro receives his certificate as guest speaker.

Dr. Neri C. Ojastro, DepEd School Division Superintendent, Negros Oriental, and the ceremony’s guest speaker, congratulated the graduates for this milestone and emphasized on the essence of partnership with TESDA, SU, and the graduates.

Senior high school students (front and back rows) from Mantiquil Masaligan High School in Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental, pose with their certificates in Organic Agriculture Production NC II.

Ojastro explained that in this partnership, there is some “part” in DepEd that is in Silliman University and, in turn, a part of SU in DepEd. This partnership, he said, is made available by all the graduates and is evident in the learners’ passion in developing their skills and talents, in the respective institutions’ passion in building better communities, and in everyone’s collective passion in building a better nation.

Senior high school students (front and back rows) from Dahile Provincial Community High School in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, pose with their certificates in Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II and Cookery NC II.

Meanwhile, Dr. Warlito S. Caturay Jr., Office of Media and Public Affairs chief, in his congratulatory message, recognized the graduates “who will play a significant role in filling the skills gap in the job market.”

Senior high school students (front and back rows) from San Miguel National High School in Bacong, Negros Oriental, pose with their certificates in Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II and Animal Production (Swine) NC II.

Rafael B. Nepomuceno, SU Scheide Farm manager, also shared his excitement “to see the heights” these graduates will reach, and encouraged them to further their studies in the field of Agriculture.

Present at the ceremony were Dr. Edna Gladys T. Calingacion, Office of Student Services (OSS) dean; Dr. Giovanni T. Macahig, Office of Registration and Records Management (ORRM) officer; Rev. Jonathan R. Pia, SU Church minister and senior pastor; the different SHS heads; program coordinators; and trainers and faculty.

Left to right: Dr. Antonio B. Baguio, DepEd Education Program supervisor; Rev. Jonathan R. Pia, SU Church minister and senior pastor; Dr. Edna Gladys T. Calingacion, OSS dean; Blanchie M. Utzurrum, SU TEVEC head; Dr. Giovanni T. Macahig, ORRM officer; Dr. Neri C. Ojastro, DepEd School Division Superintendent, Negros Oriental and graduation guest speaker; Dr. Earl Jude Paul L. Cleope, SU VPAA; and Dr. Warlito S. Caturay Jr., OMPA chief, pose before the graduation procession.