The City of Bacolod participated in a workshop and shared its consolidated action plans today, March 30, during the Local School Boards (LSBs) Summit at Nature’s Village Resort, Talisay City.

The Third District of Negros Occidental through Cong. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, in partnership with Synergeia Foundation, Inc., hosted the said event.

Mayors, Vice Mayors, officials and LSB officers from various LGUs of Negros Occidental have participated in the summit: Silay, E.B. Magalona, Victorias, Talisay, Murcia, Bago, Sipalay, La Carlota, Himamaylan, Cadiz, and Isabela.

Bacolod delegate Dr. Richard Gelangre addressed socio-economic and family dynamics as factors affecting student learning and it sought to increase teachers, procure learning materials, and provide interactive walls and wi-fi access, to name a few, to all public schools so as to “possibly attain zero dropout” in two years as envisioned by Mayor Albee Benitez.

Milwida Guevara, chief executive officer of Synergeia, underscored the quality of teachers and parents as drivers for student learning and the proactive involvement of every local government to cultivate performance-based, effective education programs and services.

The Philippines topped among 10 neighboring countries at 91 percent in learning poverty rates; divulging nine out of 10 Filipinos struggle to read, Guevara reported.

The summit served to empower and maximize the capacities of LSBs in every LGU to alleviate the crisis on literacy and numeracy learning status in the province and, in extent, the country.

Synergeia Foundation, Inc. is a non-government organization which aims to improve the quality of basic education in the Philippines by empowering the communities around public schools.
(Source: Bacolod City Public Information Office)