The Past of SDO Candon City, Its History, and Creation

Candon City is one of the promising cities of Region 1. It has always been the dream of the City Government of Candon to rise and be productive, especially in terms of economics and education. The cityhood of Candon in March 28, 2001 paved way to the creation of the Department of Education, Schools Division of Candon City on the 16^th of June, 2003.

The Schools Division of Candon City was recognized through a Memorandum of Agreement signed by the administrators, Grace G. Singson, Allen G. Singson, and the late, Vilma L. Labrador, the Congresswoman, City Mayor, and Regional Director respectively, by virtue of an authorization issued by the former Secretary of Education, Florencio B. Abad.

In June 16, 2003, two vital roles for being a School Principal II and an OIC-Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) were played at the same time by Jorge M. Reinante, who took part in the planning, implementing, and monitoring of the projects and programs of the division. After two years, he was appointed as the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent (ASDS) and still, the OIC-SDS. He got his permanent appointment as an SDS in 2008. The establishment of linkages to address urgent needs like repairs and renovations of school and office buildings, creation of new teacher-item positions, and additional funds for the SDO were the priority and focus. A year later, Fatima R. Boado, the EPS in English in La Union, sat temporarily as the OIC-ASDS in SDO Candon City until she became full-fledged in 2013. Their tandem was a vehicle to more achievements for Candon City Division, with the support of the Local Government Unit (LGU), headed by the former City Mayor, Allen G. Singson.

Because of the reassignment policy, Edna C. Leal became Reinante’s descendant in 2011. She particularly spearheaded the advancement in teaching and learning with the introduction of interactive Information and Communications Technology (ICT), specifically the Go E-Learning Program. The Reward and Recognition System was also enhanced and intensified. The other significant programs under her headship were taken cared of by the equally abled diligent and results-oriented leaders in the Division and Schoolheads and committed teachers. With this kind of workforce and collaboration, nothing was put to waste as each realized a role and responsibility to perform.

Though there was again a change of leadership, the steadiness of positive and exemplary practices was maintained. From Leal’s direction came Gemma Q. Tacuycuy in 2015. She had gigantic dreams for SDO Candon City as she projected the office as the Educational Center of Excellence, parallel with the City Government’s dream to be the Premier City in Southern Ilocos.

Due to the transfer of the third-level positions, Tacuycuy and Reinante swapped stations in 2017. This time, he partnered with Nestor C. Heraña, the newly appointed OIC-ASDS at the time, who came to pursue more jobs and responsibilities. Tasks were made easier to start huge endeavors. Heraña heightened school monitoring activities. SDO Candon City, though a small city division, has 47 schools under the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum – 29 elementary schools, five secondary schools, and 12 private schools. Candon South Central School, being one of the two Central Schools, offers Special Science Class (SSC), Special Education (SPED) Programs, and Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE). 

A general reassignment was pushed in 2019 shifting from Reinante-Heraña’s management to Aludino-Ramirez’s. The administration of SDS Anselmo R. Aludino and ASDS Mariecon G. Ramirez created a great impact, especially that it functioned in the midst of pandemic. The commitment of the members in the organization was tested and value of and for work was individually realized despite the struggles in the mission to continue and promote learning remotely. An initiative to facilitate remote learning is the SDS’s TIC-TOC – Teacher Intervention and Control through Text, Online, and Call. In addition, there is the idea to continuously produce and provide learning resources, by all means, even when statistics of users seems small, with the hope that even when the pandemic stops, these materials will still be useable and helpful. The management supported remote learning.

SDO Candon City had metamorphosed through the years and continuously extends its services for the sake of the young Candonians. Success is neither an overnight dream nor a quick snap of a finger. SDO Candon City evolved as a transformed and progressive division through a process. What it is now is a product of meaningful collaboration and workable plans of action. It has members with different eyes, focused on the same direction and intention and rooted from equal motivation.