ILOILO CITY -- The teen center buildings to be established in the towns of Balasan and San Dionisio will pave the way to support youth recreational activities, personality development and skills enhancement.

Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. led the recent groundbreaking ceremonies of the construction of the teen center buildings at Cabalic National High School in Balasan and Nicomedes R. Tubar Sr. National High School in San Dionisio. Each building costs P3.5 million.

Defensor referred to the facility as “a home outside our own house” and will cater to all the programs of the province on adolescent health and youth development.

It will house the Career Guidance and Counseling Program and the Voter’s Education Program which are the initiatives of Defensor under his Bulig Eskwela sang Probinsya (Bes Probins) Program.

“We want a standalone building for our teen center. Because we are not only interested in your academics. We are also interested in your social life, in your psychosocial well-being,” he said.

For his part, Provincial Population Office chief Atty. Ruel Von Superio said these centers serve as a haven for sharing of insights and ideas, and a facility to prevent risky sexual and non-sexual behaviors among teenagers.

“The Teen Center 2.0 is a level-up version of our old teen centers, which we will rebrand later – and to be known as the Adolescent Health and Youth Development Centers of the province,” Atty. Superio shared.

The improved version of the project will also feature a Lounge Area, Counseling Room and Activity Area, Guidance Office and Teen Center Coordinator Office, a toilet, and a pantry.

To note, the groundbreaking rites was also attended by Executive Assistant to the Governor Niel Tupas III, Balasan Mayor Filomeno Ganzon, San Dionisio Mayor Darwin Bajada, PPO personnel, and local officials of the two recipient towns. (AAL/LMLE/PIA Iloilo/Capitol)