Cebu third district Congressman Pablo John “PJ” Garcia launched “Ang Mga Eskwelahan Labs ni PJ” at the Science and Technology Summit held at the Performing Arts Hall of the University of the Philippines Cebu on August 29.
“Ang Mga Eskwelahan Labs ni PJ” aims to elevate the standard of STEM education and serve as an inspiration for other districts.
The initiative, designed to revolutionize STEM education, saw the turnover of 22 Versatile Instrumentation System for Science Education and Research (VISSER) kits to all 22 STEM public high schools of the third district.
VISSER, a research-grade laboratory system developed by researchers from the University of the Philippines, is set to enhance the learning experience of students by providing advanced tools for science education.
The summit also featured an exhibit of award-winning science research projects curated by high school and senior high school students.
In his speech, Congressman Garcia expressed gratitude to private organizations like Grab Philippines and Concentrix for their support in this transformative program.
Grab Philippines contributed two VISSER kits, while Concentrix initially donated 30 secondhand laptops to be distributed to selected public high schools in the district.
A live demonstration of the “Modern Lab In A Box” was performed by co-inventors Ralen Rose Gloria Malatbalat and Hazel Glaine Sales, showcasing the practical applications and capabilities of the VISSER kits.
Cong. PJ Garcia also pledged to extend the benefits of this initiative by equipping all 63 public high schools of his district with VISSER kits, reinforcing his commitment to the advancement of education in the region.
The summit was attended by third district Board Member (BM) Victoria Corominas-Toribio, BM Atty. Jiembo Borgonia, and BM Kuya Nick Pepito; as well as Toledo City Mayor Marjorie Perales, Asturias Mayor Dana Andrew Dumdum, and Barili Mayor John-John Garcia; along with various institutional and government partners, including the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, DOST 7, Central Visayas Information Sharing Network Foundation, and AFOS Foundation. | Contributed