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Siquijor governor pushes programs for children, youth

Siquijor Gov. Jake Vincent Villa giving his State of the Children's Address during the Department of Education's Learning Resources Management and Development System Festival and Book Fair. (PIA Siquijor file photo)

SIQUIJOR, Siquijor, January 25 (PIA) -- Siquijor Gov. Jake Vincent Villa is pushing for more development programs targeting the children and youth of Siquijor. 

Villa said the provincial government continues to support the Department of Education despite the province’s limited resources by providing venues and facilities that will help harness the children and the youth’s potential. 

The provincial government also allocated nearly P2 million to support the provincial delegation of around 300 athletes during last year’s Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association (CVIRAA) meet. 

Villa urged the educators to teach the students the knowledge that they will need for them to build better communities in the future.  

“Sila mismo atong future. (They are our future.) With the guidance from us, they will reshape our world, especially our beloved Siquijor,” Villa said. 

He said their tiny voices will one day grow big enough to influence the communities.

“They say, it takes a village to raise a child. And we, as the pillars of this village, it is our responsibility to build our children and our youth. We must nurture their self-worth by encouraging them to use their talents to better the communities,” he said.

He also assured the team of a P350 million budget coming from the national government for the construction of a sports complex here. 

This is already included in the Annual Investment Program but the province is still working out on identifying the site for the sports complex, said Provincial Planning and Development Officer Engr. Jason Manos. 

Manos said the province is allocating P25 million to improve the Siquijor Integrated School Oval Grounds which includes upgrading its pavement to rubberized track oval. 

The governor said this will also answer the province’s dream of hosting the CVIRAA. 

“We are currently in the process of finalizing a major development to turn our Pulangyuta ground (in the municipality of Siquijor) to a comprehensive sports complex which can accommodate national competitions and our athletes will have a national standard of training,” Villa said. 

He said it will enhance the skills of the students in competing with other athletes from outside the island. 

“We want to support and show to the young athletes that Siquijor can compete and has the discipline to compete,” he said.

He said the rubberized sports complex will be an iconic project for the history of Siquijor. 

“There is no greater investment than the one we make for our children,” he said. (RAC/PIA7-Siquijor)

School children participating in the Learning Resources Management and Development System Festival and Book Fair. (PIA Siquijor file photo)

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Rachelle Nessia

Assistant Regional Head

Region 7

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