BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
After more than a year of waiting, the P135 million Negros Occidental Language Information Technology Center (NOLITC) Global Campus will soon be a reality.
It will rise on a 2.5-hectare property donated by the family of Antonio Montinola in Hacienda Mana-ul, Brgy. Matab-ang, Talisay City, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who led the groundbreaking rites, said yesterday.
NOLITC is a technical-vocational institution registered and accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Authority (TESDA) that offers competency-based training programs and services.
It is currently located at Paglaum Sports Complex in Bacolod City and known as the first and only government-run language and information technology center in Region VI.
Lacson said the project is expected to be completed within two years, adding that the provincial government is willing to add more funds for the construction of additional school buildings.
The NOLITC campus will have a building for classrooms and conference halls, foreign language building, and administrator’s office building.
Lacson said the new NOLITC campus will provide quality trainings that will lead to more employment opportunities for the out-of-school youth, college drop-outs, high school graduates, and unemployed college graduates in the province.
In several years of its existence, NOLITC has produced more than 6,000 graduates who belong to financially-challenged families. About 85 percent of them were immediately hired after graduation, Lacson said.
The project is in line with the provincial government’s program on Enhancement of Access to Quality Education and ICT Development under the Abanse Negrense Development Agenda, the governor said.
Originally, the proposed site of NOLITC campus was at the track oval of the Rafael B Lacson Memorial High School at the city proper of Talisay City.
However, it was opposed by the school alumni and athletes, who are using it for sports and school activities and also supported by the Talisay City government.
Lacson thanked the Montinola family for coming to his rescue, as he admitted that he was uncertain where to transfer the NOLITC campus during that time, when he approved its relocation.
He added that the NOLITC campus buildings will help a lot more graduates.
Talisay Mayor Neil Lizares said “This development will advance our aim to make Talisay the next Smart City, which will not only benefit Talisaynons but the people of Negros Occidental.”
The groundbreaking was attended by NOLITC administrator Dr. Tina Orbecido, Board Member Ernesto Bascon, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, Provincial Engineer Ernie Mapa, property donors Mike Suarez and Janet Montinola, and Talisay City Councilors Maris Lizares, Kenn Tirthdas, Dan Tribaco, Carl Lizares, Randy Ereñeta, Marcky Pelaez, RJ Tuvilla, William Malan and Junjun Treyes, as well as contractor Franky Uy, among others.*
