MABALACAT CITY—The Mabalacat City College inaugurated three Commission on Education (CHED)-supported facilities on Monday, May 22.
CHED Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III led the inauguration of the MCC Learning Center at Barangay Sapang Biabas, MCC Gymnasium and the i-Lab at the MCC main campus in Barangay Dolores.
De Vera was joined by Mabalacat City Mayor Cris Garbo and MCC College President Michelle Aguilar-Ong in the event.
Ong said MCC Lifelong Center was established to provide learning opportunities for the entire community, including out-of-school youth, persons with disabilities, elderly, and unemployed individuals.
The center serves as a hub for various programs such as short-term, corporate, life-skill, hard-skill courses and literacy programs.
The learning center is set to house a manufacturing center for "Balacat Tea," an innovation and research output of MCC students and faculty.
The center also includes sewing facilities that are open to non-high school graduates.
MCC plans to launch a certificate program in collaboration with Luenthai, a garment manufacturing industry in Clark.
After a month of training, learners will be assessed and helped secure employment.
Meanwhile, the MCC Gymnasium will serve as the home for the MCC Sports Team, known as the Crimson Tribes.
The gymnasium features a basketball court suitable for volleyball and badminton.
For the i-Lab, CHED has provided a ?7.5 million grant for the laboratory’s latest Macintosh technology.
The grant aims to facilitate collaboration between MCC and other CHED beneficiaries, as well as international colleges and universities, for Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) initiatives.
The city government said the establishment of the i-Lab aligns with MCC's commitment to embrace advanced facilities and technology to enhance education.
It will enable faculty and students to engage in meaningful and diverse learning experiences, develop industry-suitable skills, and facilitate research and training.
The i-Lab will also facilitate the production and development of contemporary educational materials.