The Provincial Government of Iloilo is building its fourth teen center infrastructure project dubbed Teen Center 2.0 at Cabudian National High School in the municipality of Dueñas.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. spearheaded the groundbreaking ceremony on February 2, 2024, together with Mayor Robert Martin Pama, Vice Mayor Aimee Paz Lamasan, Provincial Population Office Chief Atty Ruel Von Superio, Provincial Engineer Romeo Andig, and OIC-Head Teacher III Marilyn G. Jison.
The event was also attended by municipal officials, barangay officials, and barangay service point officers, among others.
Once completed, the facility is expected to cater to roughly 340 secondary students at the school coming from five catchment barangays in Dueñas and from the neighbouring towns of Calinog and Lambunao. Cabudian is the last barangay in Dueñas and marks the boundary between Dueñas and Calinog.
Jison thanked Governor Defensor for choosing the school as one of the 10 recipients of the project and for showing concern for the education sector.
“Gov Toto, ang ginpatindog mo nga teen center dako gid ang mabulig sa amon learners, including the out-of-school youth as it will answer the needs of the adolescents in terms of reproductive health, psychosocial concerns, recreational activities, career guidance, and reading and numeracy,” she said.
Atty. Superio said the Teen Center 2.0 was realized to address the growing demand and the need for facilities to address the pressing concerns on mental health and psychosocial problems among the youth.
This upgraded version covers the construction of the fully-furnished teen center building in secondary schools. The current teen center facilities in the province are only situated in classrooms.
Governor Defensor said the facility will constitute an adolescent health and youth development center in secondary schools.
“We will develop our teen centers to be the home of all our youth programs concerning your psychosocial health and well-being,” he said.
Three teen centers are also currently being built at Cabalic National High School in Balasan, Nicomedes R. Tubar Sr. National High School in San Dionisio, and Dominador Abang Memorial National High School in San Enrique.
Governor Defensor allotted a budget of P35 million, through the Provincial School Board, for the construction of 10 teen centers in secondary schools in the province.
Atty. Superio also disclosed that an additional 10 teen centers will be built this year.
Meanwhile, Defensor instructed Engr. Andig to inspect the old school gym of Cabudian National High School for possible improvement.
(Capitol News)
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