• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The World Teachers’ Day celebration in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, yesterday turned out to be “The Best Day Ever” for teachers, who received about 100 million worth of what were dubbed as ‘Sidlak Learning Teachnologies’ from the city government headed by Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez.
Distributed were 924 laptops, 713 SMART television sets, 3,555 tablets, 589 teacher’s tables and chairs, 4,230 monobloc chairs, 56 wall fans, 56 water dispensers, 28 clinic beds, 28 medicine cabinets, and 28 portable public address system speakers.
The ceremonial turnover rites held at the Victorias City Sports and Amusement Center were witnessed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Senate committee chairperson on Basic Education, Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez, Victor De Gracia Jr., assistant regional director of the Department of Education in Western Visayas, and Portia Mallorca, Schools Division Superintendent.
The amenities will be distributed to 27 schools in Victorias and shall be utilized in accordance with the memorandum of agreement of Sidlak Learning Teachnologies, which was signed simultaneously during the turnover ceremony.
Benitez disclosed that this is the biggest investment that the city government has ever made for its education sector.
“This investment is the testament to our belief in the power of education and our commitment to creating an environment where every child can thrive, every teacher can inspire, and every dream can be realized,” he stressed.
Asked why education is the top priority of his administration, Benitez said that “education is the foundation of any progressive society.”
“If you’re educated you feel satisfied. You get a job. You help yourself and your family. Investment in education is one of the best things a government can do,” he pointed out.
Gatchalian lauded the initiatives and intervention programs of the Victorias City government.
He also presented various significant developments in the state of the education sector of Victorias City, and acknowledged the continued efforts of the LGU and Schools Division Office in pioneering those developments.
On the other hand, Rep. Benitez challenged DepEd Victorias, which Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Portia Mallorca confidently accepted.
“The challenge now […] is to once again, still show what can be done as a pioneer in recovery so that learning poverty is properly addressed and the rest of Negros Occidental will follow soon,” the solon said.
He urged the teachers to use the provided technologies appropriately to ensure that learning poverty in the city will be resolved.
Meanwhile Gatchalian said he is willing to extend help Benitez in providing Internet connection for all public schools in the city.
Benitez, who thanked Gatchalian for his help, said it would take months to connect all schools.
He added that his priority is to connect also isolated schools through the Starlink technology of techprenuer Elon Musk, which will provide satellite-based internet connectivity to underserved areas.
The interconnection project has an initial budget of P1.2 million.
With huge investments in education. Benitez said he expects the teachers to study the use gadgets well, and incorporate the utilization of technology in their lesson plan.*
