• 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 P100 million worth of Sidlak Learning `Teachnologies’ from the city government.
In rites held at the Victorias City Sports and Amusement Center, Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez led the distribution of 924 laptops, 713 Smart television sets and 3,555 tablets along with 589 teachers 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 turn-over, which was among the highlights of the city’s Education Summit, was witnessed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of Senate Committee on Basic Education, Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez, Assistant Regional Director
Victor De Gracia Jr. of the Department of Education in Western Visayas, and Schools Division Superintendent Portia Mallorca.
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 added.
Gatchalian said he is willing to extend help to Benitez in providing Internet conection to all public schools in Victorias.
Benitez, who thanked Gatchalian for offering assistance, said it would take months to connect all schools online.
He added that his priority is to also connect isolated schools through Starlink, owned by 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 of gadgets well, and incorporate the utilization of technology in their lesson plans. | GB
