Guv allots P1.5M for 5 new teen centers

ILOILO Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. vowed an additional P100,000 for each of the multi-purpose teen centers that will be established in new locations in the five districts of the province.

Originally, the budget for the multi-purpose teen centers is P200,000 each.

Defensor turned over the checks to recipient schools on Tuesday (October 23), namely: Igbaras National High School for the first district, Leonora S. Salapantan National High School in San Miguel for the second sistrict, Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School for the third district, Dumangas National High School for the fourth district and Sara National High School for the fifth district.

The governor decided to add P100,000 for each of the proposed teen centers because he was inspired by the positive impact of the establishment of the first batch of multi-purpose teen centers in Iloilo last year.

Last year, the province established five multi-purpose teen centers with a budget of P200,000 in the following areas: Oton National High School for the first district, Pavia National High School (second district), Lambunao National High School (third district), Rufino J. Palabrica Sr. Memorial National High School in Dingle (fourth district), and Nicomedes Tubar, Sr. Memorial National High School in San Dionisio (fifth district).

The establishment of the multi-purpose teen centers is a project of the Provincial Population Office headed by former Cabatuan Mayor Ramon Yee under the Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program.

Its primary objective is to contribute to the empowerment and development of adolescents and youth by providing a venue and facility where they can develop their potentials as individuals.

It also aims to help reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancies, substance abuse, sexually transmitted infections and other psycho-social problems among the young people.

The budget from the province will be used to buy equipment, rehabilitation of the center, reproduction of IEC materials and for training/capability building. (PR)