Notre Dame Schools implement “Building Integrity and Honesty through Values Formation” project

The Archdiocese of Cotabato through its education ministry launched the project entitled "Building Integrity and Honesty through Values Formation" last January 12, 2008 at the Notre Dame Gymnasium, Immaculate Conception Cathedral Compound, Cotabato City. The Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cotabato, Bishop Jose Colin M. Bagaforo, DD, was present at the program together with more than 500 school administrators, faculty, staff, PTA Officers and students from the sixteen implementing archdiocesan schools.

The goal of the project is to minimize and eventually to eliminate corruption by incorporating transformative values in the schools of the archdiocese. It is hoped to develop a sustainable venue of information on good stewardship as mutual responsibility and to institute mechanisms for committed leadership, collective action and clear policies among diocesan schools in fighting corruption within and in their neighboring localities. Through this project the educational institutions of the archdiocese aspire to lead as Transformative Leader Schools by focusing on values formation especially on stewardship alongside the quest for knowledge.

Through its various modules and capability building programs the project is hoped to give the administrators, faculty, non-teaching staff, students and parents' core group a deepened awareness and understanding of the many forms and shapes of internal and external corruption present in institutions including the schools. With empowered capabilities these targeted school groups are hoped to empower the rest of the community in a unified effort to implement good governance in different institutions.

The contact persons of this project are Rev. Fr. Clifford L. Baira, DCC, Director/Superintendent of the Archdiocesan Notre Dame Schools of Cotabato; Rev. Fr. Jessie P. Pasquin, DCC, President of Notre Dame of Salaman College; and Rev. Fr. Antonio P. Pueyo, DCC, President of Notre Dame of Tacurong College. The Council for Values Formation of the Office of the President of the Philippines funds this project which will end in November 2008.

(Luzvilla Riego de Dios)