BALANGA City- The 5th University Town Summit was held here Thursday pursuant to the city’s vision to be a center of quality education by year 2020.
“Ang pangarap natin ay magkaroon ng mahuhusay na mga paaralan at magagaling na mga estudyante na adapted sa knowledge- based businesses that are dominating the world,” Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III said.
The mayor told thousands of students attending the summit of his recent visit to Silicon Valley in the United States where he said many Filipinos are working for well-known companies. He said that for example, Apple is earning $1.6 trillion.
To attain the dream, various programs have been implemented. Garcia said they began helping the fami-program banning smoking in the city. Balanga earned a niche in the Hall of Fame of the Department of Health for receiving the Red Orchid award for being a tobacco- free city for three consecutive years.
The sidewalks in the Capitol Drive are being improved so students and pedestrians can easily walk from schools to the Plaza Mayor de Balanga and to bus and jeepney terminals. The Plaza Mayor with dancing fountain adjacent to big commercial establishments and the city hall/library with facades of the same design and color is teeming with students, elderly and people of all walks of ly.
“Kapag maayos ang pamilya, magiging maayos ang barangay, magiging maayos ang bayan kaya ang gusto natin ay isang family-oriented city,” he said.
More than 5,000 parents have graduated in the EduChild Parenting program and the mayor wants all parents with children attending day-care, pre-elementary, elementary and high schools in the city to graduate from it.
“Kailangang tulungan ang mga magulang sapagka’t ang pagiging magulang ang pinakamahirap sa lahat,” Garcia said.
The mayor wants a conducive learning environment that is vicefree. The city implemented the Healthy Lifestyle life.
The development of the sports complex with track oval is about ready that will surely lure students and others to go on exercising. The Wetland Park in Barangay Tortugas, complete with information center, two viewing decks and nipa-roofed cottages, is must-see for students who want to go birdwatching.
Peace and order especially for students is being taken care of. There will be an expansion program for the installation of more CCTVs along the Capitol road equipped with emergency buttons so hikers can easily call for police and rescue assistance.
Participants in the 5th University Town Summit held at the Bataan People’s Center came from the Bataan Peninsula State University, Bataan Heroes Memorial College, Eastwoods, Tomas del Rosario College, Philippines Women University, APCAS, ACLC and Microcity, among some other schools in Balanga City.
Bro. Bo Sanchez, lay minister, talked and inspired the students on “Selfless & Honest: The youth and their spiritual growth that drives them to do the right thing.” Lizabeth Holganza, NICP chairperson, dealt on “Intelligent: The youth and their ability to contribute to IT innovation.”
During the break-out sessions, there were singing, dancing and even selfies.
