MABALACAT MAYOR VOWS TO STRENGTHEN EDUCATION SYSTEM, LAUNCHES PROGRAM FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH, DROPOUTS

BY KEVIN GALANG

MAYOR Crisostomo Garbo vowed to strengthen education system in Mabalacat City, Pampanga as he launched a program that will reach out to out-of-school youth and drop out students.

He issued the promise as he expressed elation over President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s acknowledgement of the Mabalacat City College (MCC) during his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA). 

The President praised MCC for bagging the prestigious award for Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year by the Times Higher Education “in the face of top global competition.” 

“I am delighted and honored by President Bongbong Marcos’s recognition of our city’s achievements during his recent SONA and for highlighting Mabalacat’s success on a national platform,” Garbo said.

“This only shows the sincerity and hard work we put to the city’s local educational institution,” he added. 

Garbo vowed to further strengthen local education system in the city.

Garbo, through the MCC, recently formalized a partnership with the Mabalacat City Youth Development Office (CYDO) to launch the Return to Education Assistance Program (REAP). 

REAP aims to reach out to out-of-school youth and drop-out students within the community and offer them support and assistance to pursue their tertiary education. 

“Ang nais kong mangyari, ang bawat Mabalaqueño sa pamilya ay may hawak na diploma. With this program, we ensure that college dropouts can be integrated back to the education system under the Flexible Learning Program, which is the MCC Pro Plus,” Garbo said.

Recently, Garbo distributed laptops to teachers in Mabalacat as part of his thrust to strengthen the education system in the city.

The Mabalacat mayor also thanked MCC president Michelle Aguilar-Ong and the men and women of Mabalacat City College for continuing to make MCC a hub for innovation and progress in the field of technology and digitalization.

He said with the help, students were ensured of the best education possible and are well-equipped for the challenges of the future.

During the Times Higher Education Awards Asia 2024 held last April, MCC was conferred the prestigious Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year award at Sunway City in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

MCC bested Chiang Mai University, Christ University, James Cook University, Singapore, Lovely Professional University, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Marmara University and National University of Singapore.

MCC has secured the award because of its Smart Huawei classrooms, enabling working students under its Pro Plus Program to participate in their classes wherever they are, without compromising their engagement. 

The program not only facilitates active participation in real-time but also offers the flexibility to access classes at a more convenient time, accommodating any changes in their work schedules.

Times Higher Education Awards is the Oscars for tertiary education.