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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Gatchalian lauds Iloilo Proof of Concept program

Gatchalian lauds Iloilo Proof of Concept program

Published Jul 10, 2025 04:48 pm
SEN. Win Gatchalian during an education dialogue in Iloilo. (Office of Sen. Gatchalian)
SEN. Win Gatchalian during an education dialogue in Iloilo. (Office of Sen. Gatchalian)
ILOILO CITY – Sen. Win Gatchalian urged the government to replicate a program implemented by local government units (LGUs) in Iloilo province to institute educational reforms.
“Dapat gawin eto nationwide (This should be done nationwide),” said Gatchalian as he noted he potential of the program called Proof of Concept (POC) during a recent dialogue with local officials and the education sector in Iloilo.
The POC is a devolution program that gives LGUs in 11 towns of Iloilo and the LGU of Iloilo City the responsibility in handling basic education programs.
While education is generally the mandate of the Department of Education (DepEd), the administration of Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. said the POC is a means to give core responsibility to LGUs and improve the quality of education.
The Iloilo provincial government’s Education Core Group (EDCORE) led by Provincial Administrator Raul Banias and Freda Sabanal Fajardo started the POC in 2024 in partnership with Synergeia Foundation Inc. and LGUs.
The pilot program was tested in Cabatuan, Guimbal, Igbaras, Maasin, Batad, Lemery, Mina, Leganes, Pavia, Barotac Viejo, and Sara towns and Iloilo City.
To implement the provisional learning and improvement of reading proficiency among Grade 3 students, the LGUs augmented the fund raised by then Sen. now DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara and the Coca-Cola Foundation.
The LGUs were able to procure textbooks and other learning materials while allocating funds for capacity-building programs of school principals and teachers.
When the POC started, it was found out that seven out of 10 students in Grade 3 cannot read.
 “When the pilot program was concluded, nine out of 10 learners tested in the 12 pilot LGUs could already read. And their average score was 87 percent,” said Iloilo third district Board Member Jason Gonzales.  

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Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian Proof of Concept Iloilo
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