Victorias City marked a significant milestone in advancing inclusive and skills-based education through the ceremonial signing of the Tripartite Memorandum of Cooperation with the University of Saint La Salle and Unilab Education Inc. at the Don Alejandro Acuña Yap Quiña Arts and Cultural Center June 26.
The partnership aims to revive the Lasallian education mission in Victorias and nearby towns, through the reopening of La Salle College Victorias, which will focus on technical and vocational education and training.
The shared vision is to reestablish the institution as a center for technical skills development, career readiness, and economic empowerment.
Unilab Education Inc., the education arm of the Filipino-owned Unilab Group and known for brands, such as Biogesic and RiteMed, joins the collaboration with its mission to promote affordable, accessible, and quality education that enables social mobility.
The initiative will support the development of collaborative programs between and among the academe, the private sector, and the local government to ensure long-term sustainability and relevance to local and regional needs, the city said in a press release.
The agreement outlines the joint conduct of marketing studies, business planning, and the creation of an operational framework and educational offerings that respond to the demands of the local workforce, it added.
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez emphasized that the agreement is not merely a signing of documents but a commitment to unlocking opportunities through education.
He highlighted the city’s vision to strengthen skills development and build a competitive workforce for the future.
USLS president, Br. Joaquin Severino Martinez, said the initiative reflects a shared mission and a hopeful step toward responsive and inclusive education.
He affirmed the university’s support for this partnership with Unilab Education and the City of Victorias.
Martinez was joined by university chancellor Minnie Chua, vice chancellor for Mission and Development Mark Christopher Dueñas, director for Special Projects Matthew Ramos, campus officer for La Salle Victorias Maryiole Dequinto, and coordinator for LifeSkills Hanalee Frofunga.
Unilab Education president, Attorney Jose Maria Ochave, shared his enthusiasm for the partnership.
He noted that education is not only a right but also an investment in the future, one that must be shared by students, parents, and the government.
He emphasized the importance of developing a skills-based learning ecosystem that leads to employment and empowers students with both knowledge and practical competencies.
Also present were director Ramon Miguel Barredo and executive officer Michael Ignatius Tan of Unilab Education Inc., city, barangay, and Sangguniang Kabataan officials, department heads, school heads from the Victorias Schools Division Office, teachers, and beneficiaries of the AYOS Program. ||
