Iloilo turns over PHP 15 million for Cabatuan TechnoHub
By Mariela Angella Oladive
ILOILO CITY — Students in Iloilo are set to gain more opportunities to develop technical skills as the provincial government turned over PHP 15 million for the construction of a technology hub at Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School (CNCHS) on Oct. 26.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. led the turnover and signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 6, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Region 6, the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 through the Schools Division of Iloilo, and the municipal government of Cabatuan.
The TechnoHub will offer training in drone technology, artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing and information and communications technology (ICT).
Under the agreement, the provincial government will fund the facility’s establishment, equipment and supplies while supporting teacher training and monitoring.
TESDA will provide training programs, trainers and competency assessment pathways, while DOST will extend technical expertise and access to innovation networks.
DepEd will ensure that activities complement the school curriculum, while CNCHS will provide the facility, designate a coordinator and submit regular reports.
The PHP 15 million project is funded through the Provincial School Board’s Special Education Fund, which supports public education programs and facilities.
Defensor said the initiative would help students whose interests and abilities align with technical-vocational education develop their strengths.
“Technical-vocational education will help guide students who are naturally inclined toward this field. We have students who think this way, and if we fail to provide opportunities for them, their potential will go to waste,” Defensor said.
He also announced plans to establish two to three additional TechnoHubs, with funding to be included in the province’s supplemental budget.
Provincial Education Management Office chief Maria Alfreda Fajardo said the partnership would help prepare students for future careers.
“We are not just signing a document today. We are opening doors for our children—doors to future opportunities,” Fajardo said.
She added that the partnership would help students acquire future-ready skills and develop confidence in their place in the workforce.
The CNCHS facility broke ground on Aug. 11 and is being positioned by the provincial government as the first school-based TechnoHub of its kind in the country.
The project, officially named the MoRProGRes Iloilo TechnoHub, is part of the provincial government’s broader initiative to strengthen technical-vocational education and provide public school students with hands-on training in emerging technologies.
The provincial government earlier announced plans to establish similar facilities across Iloilo’s five congressional districts to expand access to technology-based education and help prepare students for emerging employment opportunities.
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