CABARROGUIS, Quirino (PIA) -- Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian gave his assurance that he will fully support the development of learners with special education needs stressing that no child will be left behind in promoting the well-being of every learner.

During the inauguration and turnover of the Inclusive Learning Resource Center (ILRC) for Learners with Disabilities, Gatchalian lauded the Department of Education in this province for establishing the facility, the first of its kind in the Cagayan Valley Region.

“I came here because I want to be inspired by what you are doing for our learners with disabilities, despite the meager funds you were able to establish an ILRC for the welfare of the learners,” Gatchalian said as he assured constant communication with Gov. Dakila Carlo Cua and Rep. Midy Cua to know the needs of the schools and the province.

Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture and author of the law, said among the laws he authored, the RA 11560 or Instituting a Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities is the closest to his heart having witnessed some children who were not able to attend school due to their disabilities.

He also shared that he has a special needs nephew whose application to enroll in a private school was rejected due to his incapacity of the school to cater to the needs of learners with disabilities.

“In our country, we promote education for all children but we still have some who were deprived of their rights to education and this is not right, that’s why we at Valenzuela City expanded our Special Education Classes and put up SPED Center, which is now called ILRC,” Gatchalian said. He served as mayor of the city for nine years. 

Under the Inclusive Education Act, at least one ILRC for Learners with Disabilities must be established in every city and municipality to implement inclusive education programs and deliver free support services to learners with disabilities.

Gatchalian added that it’s the responsibility of the schools to provide inclusive education for the learners and also the government to ensure that all schools are capable of providing quality education for all learners including those with disabilities.

“The law is very clear that no school, private or public, can drive away children who want to study just because of their disabilities,” Gatchalian stressed.

Gatchalian however admitted that the law could not be fully implemented and it still has a long way to go due to the huge budget requirement to be able to establish one ILRC per province. 

“But Quirino did it despite its limited resources and it has been doing it before the enactment of the Inclusive Education Act, and the whole country can also do it,” the senator added. (OTB/TCB/PIA-2, Quirino)