• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The city government of Victorias in Negros Occidental, is set to distribute 3,555 tablet computers to Victoriahanon students, following the provision of 711 SMART TV sets and 924 laptops to all public school classrooms, also in the city.
“We dream of a global city, and it must start with a global classroom. If we invest in digital technology, the opportunities are endless and the learning is limitless,” Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez said in a statement.
Benitez indicated that Victorias is moving towards digitization in classrooms as knowledge transfer is now happening at a rapid pace.
However, he said, these are just the beginning of his administration’s long-term goal for the city’s education sector.
During the launching of the Regional Education Development Plan (REDP) and Division Education Development Plan (DEDP) in Iloilo City on March 28, Benitez said he believes in the power of education to transform lives and uplift communities.
By working hand in hand to implement the REDP and our DEDP, we are investing in the future of our most valuable resource, our youth,” he said.
REDP and DEDP are six-year education plans encompassing strategies on how priority directions, policies, programs, quality assurance measures, and equity-driven systems.
Benitez also said that the city government guarantees the provision of necessary support for the Schools Division of Victorias, and will be its constant partner in ensuring the delivery of quality life-long learning.
On the same day, Benitez also received the government permit for the Victorias City Farm School, which is now among the 27 farm schools in Western Visayas.
Victorias City Schools Division Superintendent Portia Mallorca, Ph.D., CESO V, Assistant SDS Mark Anthony Tan, Ph.D., Chief Education Supervisor and Curriculum Implementation Division Leny Nillos, Ph.D., Chief Education Supervisor and Schools Governance and Operations Division Ronamie Reliquias, Ph.D., Planning Officer III John Paul Pecaoco, and Education Program Specialist II Giovanni Wray Estraño, were among those who joined Mayor Benitez during the grand launching.
The event was also attended by DepEd Regional Director Dr. Ramir Uytico, CESO III, Chief Education Supervisor Dr. Leo Dedoroy, regional chiefs, supervisors, and along with the 21 school division superintendents in Region VI, 25 assistant SDSS, 21 division curriculum chiefs, 21 division governance and operation chiefs, 21 senior education specialists, and 21 planning officers.*
