Mayor Javi Fulfills Another Groundbreaking Achievement in the Education Sector

October 05, 2023

EDUCATION CHAMPION. Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez turned over 924 laptops to all public school teachers, a trailblazing education initiative in the Western Visayas Region, October 5. The City Government of Victorias together with the City Schools Division Office celebrated the culmination of the National Teachers’ Day celebration through the first-ever Education Summit, held at the City Sports and Amusement Center. One laptop for every public school teacher in Victorias City. This is what Mayor Javi had promised during the in-service training for teachers last February. Today, the City Mayor turned over the 924 laptops to teachers along with the 713 SMART TVs for public school classrooms, 3,555 tablets for students, 589 teacher’s tables and chairs, 4,230 Monoblock chairs, 56 wall fans, 56 water dispensers, 28 clinic beds, 28 medicine cabinets, and 28 portable speakers. All of these 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. In his message, Mayor Javi revealed that this is the biggest investment that the city 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 said. He emphasized that this initiative is not just about the numbers or the quantity of the amenities the LGU had provided but rather the impact of these resources on every student, teacher, and school community member. Senate Committee Chair on Basic Education Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian, who graced the Education Summit as the keynote speaker, commended the initiatives and intervention programs of the Victorias LGU under the leadership of Mayor Javi. The Senator presented various significant developments in the state of the education sector of Victorias and acknowledged the continued efforts of the LGU and SDO in pioneering these developments. Furthermore, Sen. Win Gatchalian promised to be the “boses” and “ka-partner” of the LGU in its future education projects and programs. “Makakaasa po kayo na ako ay magiging ka-partner niyo sa Senado sa mga programa or proyekto ninyo pagdating sa edukasyon dito sa Victorias City,” he said. Third District Representative of Negros Occidental Hon. Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez gave a challenge to DepEd Victorias which Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Portia Mallorca accepted confidently. “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,” Cong. Kiko said. He urged the teachers to use the provided technologies appropriately to ensure that learning poverty in the city will be resolved. DepEd Region VI Assistant Director Dr. Victor De Gracia Jr., CESO V, and Provincial Board Members Manuel Frederick Ko and Andrew Montelibano were among the distinguished guests of the summit. Vice Mayor Abelardo Bantug III with all the city councilors also graced the activity along with City Administrator Atty. Lindolf De Castro, department heads, school heads, PTA presidents, SLLG presidents, Teachers League President, private school representatives, teachers, non-teaching personnel, education partners, parents, and city employees.