BACOLOD City — The city government here is set to establish a digital mobile learning center next year to bring education directly to underserved communities and help bridge access gaps for out-of-school youth (OSY), adults, and street children.
Mayor Greg Gasataya announced the initiative during his State of the Children Address on December 26 at the lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), held as part of the culminating activity of National Children’s Month.
According to Gasataya, the digital mobile learning center will travel to various barangays across the city, particularly those without access to similar educational programs.
“This will help a lot because not all barangays have access to this kind of program,” the mayor said.
The city government will partner with the Department of Education (DepEd) in implementing the project.
Gasataya said the city aims to roll out the mobile learning center by the first quarter of 2026, although the exact number of units to be established has yet to be determined.
During his address, the mayor also cited plans to upgrade the Bacolod Social Development Center to strengthen inter-agency coordination, as well as to acquire a dedicated facility for victims of gender-based violence and sexual abuse.
He stressed that the true measure of a child-friendly city lies not in awards alone, but in ensuring that children feel safe, supported, and hopeful—reaffirming Bacolod’s commitment to compassion, justice, and responsibility for every child.
Gasataya further noted that the city recently received the Child-Friendly Local Governance (CFLG) Seal from the Council for the Welfare of Children, marking a major milestone in its efforts to advance child-centered governance. The recognition reflects Bacolod’s strong performance across the five pillars of child rights: survival, development, protection, participation, and governance.
He emphasized that the seal is both an achievement and a responsibility, underscoring the need to translate policies into concrete benefits for children./PN
