The Manila City government will invest in bringing back the Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) program in all schools, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said on Tuesday.
In a meeting with officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Manila Division of City Schools, Domagoso said they will implement information dissemination efforts such as seminars for the GMRC program for students and teachers.
The Mayor said the main target of the revival of the GMRC program would bring back “respect and compassion for each other.”
“Kapag nabalik yung respect to point of views, importante iyon. While we argue, while we disagree, but there is certain level of respect among each other, sa tingin ko tatamaan lahat yun, na kapag alam niyang may mali, alam niyang hindi niya dapat gawin iyon,” the Mayor said.
“Ang malasakit kasi, it’s a big word. Maraming nang nakapaloob doon – respeto, pagpapahalaga, disiplina. When you care, you’ll understand naturally ultimo yung maliliit na bagay,” he added.
Education officials who were present in the meeting were DepEd’s Bureau of Curriculum Development chief Isabel Victorino and director Joyce Andaya, Supervising Specialist Mark Bercando, and Manila Division of City Schools head Dr. Magdalena Lim.
Likewise, the Mayor said the local government will also help in strengthening the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program for senior high schools by building more Science and Math laboratories.
“We’ll be gladly to support. Anything na pwede naming magawa in our own little way, with the help of Superintendent and the school board, to redirect, go back towards a journey of developing the next generation, the next Batang Maynila while we address the existing one and bring it back right to the community,” Domagoso said.
“Ang paghulma sa bata as indibidwal sa kanyang pamayanan ay nakasalalay talaga sa paaralan kasi mas malaking portion ng oras sa loob ng isang araw, andoon siya sa educational institution, nasa care ng mga teacher,” he added.
The meeting was held as the national government was also discussing the Implementing Rules and Regulations for the implementation of Republic Act No. 11476, otherwise known as GMRC and Values Education Act for the country.
Under the law, the GMRC program shall be taught as a separate subject for students from Grade 1 to Grade 12, with the same time allotment of other subjects.