The Valenzuela City local government inaugurated Monday, June 20, the Academic Center for Excellence (VALACE) building in Barangay Malinta that will help shape the talents, skills and abilities of city residents.
Mayor Rex Gatchalian and Vice-Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja led the facility’s soft opening and blessing, along with city councilors and barangay officials.
“Ito pong ating facility na ito ang magsisilbing napakaganda o napakakumpletong pasilidad para po mapagbuti natin lalo ‘yung ating programa sa edukasyon at mga trainings. Gayun din, ito ang magiging sentro hindi lang ng learning ng mga guro, ng mga magulang, kundi magiging sentro din ng lahat ng mga nag-aaral sa Valenzuela City, (Our facility will serve as a very good or very complete facility to further improve our education program and trainings. Also, it will be the center not only of the learning of teachers and parents but also of all students in Valenzuela City),” Vice-Mayor Borja said.
“This will serve as our additional inspiration para lalong pagbutihin, paghusayin at palaguin pa ang ating programa sa edukasyon (This will serve as our additional inspiration to further improve, enhance, and expand our education program,” she added.
The six-storey building has a three-storey public library with a study hall and information technology and multimedia section, five training halls for teachers and other education-related programs, conference rooms, special education (SPED) annex, an exhibit hall, a roof deck, and the office of the “Education360” that aims to strengthen the city’s education services.
Gatchalian said that the building will formally be opened to the public after 60 days.
He added that they have an ongoing book drive where communities can donate books that will be placed in the public library.
The mayor also said the third floor of the library will be used as a study hall for learners, especially those who are going to take licensure exams. It will be open until 2 a.m.
“Itong VALACE ay patunay na naniniwala tayo sa kinabukasan ng mga kabataaan sa pamamagitan ng dekalidad na edukasyon. Nawa ay pag binuksan ‘to, daan-daang libong mga Valenzuelanong kabataan ang makahawak ng aklat (VALACE is a proof that we believe in the future of young people through quality education. May hundreds of thousands of the youth in Valenzuela be able to hold books when the facility opens),” Gatchalian said.