The first General Assembly of the Guidance Counselors Association of DepEd Sibugay (GCADS) was successfully held last June 20, 2014 at Diplahan National High school with seventy seven (77) Guidance Counselors in attendance.

The activity was spearheaded by Department of Education Zamboanga Sibugay Division in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment Sibugay Field Office. The agenda of the assembly focuses on the by-laws, orientation of the newly designated Guidance Counselors on Guidance Counseling Programs and the role of GCs in the implementation of DOLE programs and services, specifically on career coaching.

The DOLE Field Office Head, Mr. Elamsalih E. Ungad stir-up the discussion by putting emphasis on the crucial partnership of the DOLE and the DepEd in helping high school students choose the right career for a better job in the future. He also encouraged the intensification of Labor Market Information (LMI) by the guidance counselors in their respective schools. Mr. Ungad also discussed the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) as an intervention to poor students that are at risk of dropping out of school. The SPES allows graduating high school students to be employed during the summer. Through this program they can pay for their related school expenses while at the same time gaining valuable experience in their work.

It was then followed by the induction of GCADS officers with Dr. Monalisa M. Babiera as the inducting officer who imparted an empowering and inspirational message to the full pledge GCADS officers. Consequently, the by-laws were presented which was deliberated by the body wherein suggestions and clarifications were raised and revisions were also made to establish a purposeful policies and guidelines of the Guidance Counselors Association.

The success of the event gave way to a more knowledgeable and informed Guidance Counselors and a tighter bond between the Department of Education and the Department of Labor and Employment with the assurance that the DOLE ZSFO will always be there to assist the Department of Education in molding the students to a brighter careers.

Shariffa Nur-Aizzah Ijin H. Mohammad

GIP