Lacson assures support for NOLITC program

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson assured his continued support for the program of the Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC).

Lacson said the provincial government plans to send the winners of the annual Battle of Bots Robotics Challenge to national competitions.

"This is one program we will continue to support. Negros Occidental is ready to compete at an international level. We hope to reach that level," Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Thursday, September 7.

The governor said the objective of the Battle of Bots is to join national competitions for now.

"We will look forward to joining international events," he added.

Dr. Ma. Christina Orbecido, administrator of NOLITC, said the event is in its third year, stalled only by the pandemic, and was held online only.

Last year, we sent winners of the 2nd edition to the national competition, she said.

"The potential of the kids who are joining the event is already showing," she said.

The international competition is in Japan, Brazil, and Australia, Orbecidos said, adding that their target is to send the winners of the provincial event to the venues abroad by next year.

The participants in the provincial contest are winners of its hackathon events in the cities of San Carlos and Bago.

The 3rd Battle of Bots Robotics Challenge was participated by eight elementary schools and 10 high schools.

They compete in Sumobot and Line Tracing events, divided into two categories.

Orbecido said they are encouraging students to choose robotics as their subject in school.

"They can use robotics to solve problems they see in their communities," she pointed out.

Orbecido also said the provincial government is committed to helping them.*