Valenzuela to open free ICT Academy for residents
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Valenzuela to open free ICT Academy for residents
MANILA — Valenzuela City is aiming to boost digital education and employment with the creation of a new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Academy, offering free education to its residents.
MANILA — Valenzuela City is aiming to boost digital education and employment with the creation of a new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Academy, offering free education to its residents.
The city government of Valenzuela and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) formalized this through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on Monday at the Valenzuela City Technological College.
The city government of Valenzuela and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) formalized this through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on Monday at the Valenzuela City Technological College.
Mayor Wes Gatchalian said that the academy is envisioned to function like a local version of Silicon Valley, an innovation hub that links technical education directly to employability.
Mayor Wes Gatchalian said that the academy is envisioned to function like a local version of Silicon Valley, an innovation hub that links technical education directly to employability.
"We're slowly shifting from industrial na dati warehousing, factories, ngayon po ang mga young generations ay IT-related employment," he said.
"We're slowly shifting from industrial na dati warehousing, factories, ngayon po ang mga young generations ay IT-related employment," he said.
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"'Yan talaga ang gusto ng mga kabataan ngayon, courses like cybersecurity, AI (artificial intelligence), animation, programming and the likes. What the market needs, we will provide through this facility," he added.
"'Yan talaga ang gusto ng mga kabataan ngayon, courses like cybersecurity, AI (artificial intelligence), animation, programming and the likes. What the market needs, we will provide through this facility," he added.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the agency will support the project and other forms of assistance.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the agency will support the project and other forms of assistance.
"We will provide the technical assistance we can extend, plus 'yung property namin. In our aspiration to create more digital jobs, sana magsumula sa Valenzuela talaga, Aguda said.
"We will provide the technical assistance we can extend, plus 'yung property namin. In our aspiration to create more digital jobs, sana magsumula sa Valenzuela talaga, Aguda said.
The proposed Valenzuela ICT Academy will rise on a two-hectare property along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Karuhatan, formerly home to the Valenzuela Telecommunications Office, now under the DICT.
The proposed Valenzuela ICT Academy will rise on a two-hectare property along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Karuhatan, formerly home to the Valenzuela Telecommunications Office, now under the DICT.
The future campus will span a total floor area of 13,524 square meters with an additional 7,567 square meters of landscaped space.
The future campus will span a total floor area of 13,524 square meters with an additional 7,567 square meters of landscaped space.
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Planned facilities include a Commercial Hub, ICT Park, Academic Building, Administrative Building, Central Plaza, BPO Building, ICT Building, Pocket Garden, and a Parking Structure. Construction is expected to begin next year, with operations targeted to start in three years and a projected initial enrollment of 3,000 students.
Planned facilities include a Commercial Hub, ICT Park, Academic Building, Administrative Building, Central Plaza, BPO Building, ICT Building, Pocket Garden, and a Parking Structure. Construction is expected to begin next year, with operations targeted to start in three years and a projected initial enrollment of 3,000 students.
Mayor Gatchalian said there should be flexible education options that can lead to immediate employment.
Mayor Gatchalian said there should be flexible education options that can lead to immediate employment.
"Di naman lahat gusto ng ladderized course, hindi naman po lahat nagtetake ng bachelors degree dahil mahaba yung iba dahil sa pangangailangan sa buhay gusto nang makapagtrabaho agad," he said.
"Di naman lahat gusto ng ladderized course, hindi naman po lahat nagtetake ng bachelors degree dahil mahaba yung iba dahil sa pangangailangan sa buhay gusto nang makapagtrabaho agad," he said.
A technical working group composed of representatives from DICT, the city government, and other stakeholders will be formed to finalize plans and secure funding, targeting inclusion in the 2026 or 2027 budget cycle.
A technical working group composed of representatives from DICT, the city government, and other stakeholders will be formed to finalize plans and secure funding, targeting inclusion in the 2026 or 2027 budget cycle.
The program will be completely free for Valenzuela residents, with the local government subsidizing infrastructure and equipment costs. Private partners are also expected to support the initiative.
The program will be completely free for Valenzuela residents, with the local government subsidizing infrastructure and equipment costs. Private partners are also expected to support the initiative.
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