BACOLOD has again been chosen a "pilot city."

It was selected among the six pilot sites for the implementation of the Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines (ABC+ Project) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAid) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said: "This is a step forward for the quality of education in Bacolod. When the K to 12 Program was introduced, we were also chosen among the first pilot cities. Even in the DepEd 50-50 scheme to construct major school buildings, we were the first pilot city in the country. This USAid-DepEd program will surely help us keep our lead in education advancement."

USAid said the ABC+ will support DepEd by identifying innovative and sustainable ideas to address the continuing challenges in literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional learning (SEL), focusing on systems strengthening.

USAid and DepEd designed the ABC+ Project and have tapped RTI International as its lead implementing body to improve children's basic life skills in the primary levels (Kinder to Grade 3).

The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) will work in partnership with The Asia Foundation (TAF) and through the funding support of USAid. They will spearhead the project in response to the ABC+ entitled: Cities' System Capacity Development Project (Ci-Cap) in Bicol and Western Visayas Region.

The project aims to build and strengthen cities' system capacity and commitment to plan, mobilize, and manage resources in support of improved learning outcomes of children at the primary level. Likewise, the project aspires to enhance cities' capacity to collaborate with DepEd to harmonize their education programs.

Webinars on local government support to education, dialogue with legislators, review of cities' SEF utilization, promotion of innovative practices on financing education, and forging partnerships with the private sector are expected from the LGU as a show of support and cooperation to the project. (PR)