The
initiative, backed by P1.5 million funding, aims to enhance literacy and skills
development among underprivileged students.
The
partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by
Mayor Jerry Treñas and SRIC President Dr. Robert F. Galindez at City Hall on
April 21, 2025.
“This will initially help 300 students who will be joining the Alternative Learning System, which is very important to us because we want to give them as much as possible all the necessary tools they want when they get into college or find work,” said Treñas
“This is
not going to be a school-based activity. This is a real community-based
activity, because I believe that if it’s going to be school-based, the students
will not learn,” SRIC President Dr. Robert Galindez said.
Galindez
also mentioned that 1,000 SRIC senior high school students and 200 experts will
be working in 100 barangays in the city, hoping that in the next few years,
they will able to cover the entire city.
The
partnership also aims to position both the city government and the SRIC in
National Literacy Awards – Gawad Liyab, LGU, “Highly Urbanized City” Category
and other Government and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
initiated competitions.
“We are
very confident that even when the mayor will no longer be in position in the
awarding ceremonies of Gawad Liyab, LGU, he will be very happy and proud of
Iloilo City’s participation,” he added.
Key
programs under the partnership include Rise Green Volunteers, RaisaCares Jr.
Green Volunteers, and USWAG Scholarship Program which target beneficiaries
including the ALS, Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs), sex workers seeking
educational advancement, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), and indigenous
people who reside in the city. (Janelle Marie Belarde/Iloilo City PIO)