ILOILO – The Teen Center Version 2.0 at Dominador Abang Memorial National High School (NHS) in Barangay Garita, San Enrique broke ground on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 30.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., Provincial Population Office chief Atty. Ruel Von Superio and Mayor Rosario Mediatrix “Trixie” Fernandez led the ceremony. They were joined by Dominador Abang Memorial NHS officer-in-charge Rodolfo F. Alemania and the municipal and barangay officials, among others.
Of the four secondary schools in San Enrique, Dominador Abang Memorial NHS was chosen, according to Fernandez, because of the economic status of the barangay where it is located and due to the incidence of sexual abuse in the area.
“This facility will serve as a refuge during times when we are emotionally troubled, and we have a place to help us. This teen center is very timely,” the mayor said.
Defensor said the building will later be called the Adolescent Health and Youth Development Center and will also cater to the psychosocial programs of the province.
“Because we are not only interested in your academics. We are also interested in your social life, in your psychosocial life,” the governor said.
The facility is expected to cater to 441 learners in the secondary school as well as those in the surrounding barangays.
Defensor also committed to providing a budget for the construction of a standard school gym at Dominador Abang Memorial NHS. He has instructed the Provincial Engineer’s Office to inspect the area.
Teen Center Version 2.0 is an infrastructure project implemented by the Provincial Population Office that involves the construction of teen center buildings in municipalities. This is an upgrade from the previous project in the province, which only involved the provision of equipment to teen centers.
The PPO has allotted P35 million for the construction of an initial 10 teen centers or two per district.
The recipients are Oton National High School and Alejandro Fermeza National High School in Miagao (first district); Alimodian National High School and Western Visayas Sanitarium Integrated School in Santa Barbara (second district); Alberto Sorongon National High School in Pototan and Maasin National High School (third district); Dominador Abang Memorial National High School in San Enrique and Cabudian National High School in Dueñas (fourth district); and Cabalic National High School in Balasan and Nicomedes R. Tubar Sr. National High School in San Dionisio (fifth district).
Superio disclosed that Defensor has approved an additional P35 million budget for the 10 more teen center buildings in the province. (With a report from Capitol News)/PN
