Saint Louis University (SLU), through the Office of the University President and the Professional Education Department of the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA), officially kicked off the Phase 2 implementation of its educational community program at the National Child Development Center in San Quintin, Pangasinan, on 23 to 24 October 2026. The activity is the fruit of a collaborative partnership between SLU, led by University President Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, and the Local Government Unit of San Quintin, headed by Hon. Mayor Farah Lee Lumahan. Designed to enhance local capacity in early childhood care and administration, the joint initiative reflects a shared commitment to building resilient and empowered communities through accessible expertise.
The two-day training introduced specialized learning modules tailored for child development workers and local stakeholders. On the first day, Marilyn L. Balmeo, PhD delivered comprehensive sessions addressing the Developmental Milestones of Children, Methods for Identifying Children with Special Learning Needs, and Specialized Intervention Strategies for Children with Delayed Speech. On the second day, Mr. Philip Nicer led practical training on Basic Computer Literacy, providing participants with essential technological skills to streamline instructional planning and administrative tasks.
Rooted in the CICM Advocacy on Justice and Peace, the program actively contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The activity was spearheaded by program coordinators and lead trainers Mrs. Delia C. Quero and Mr. Anthony David L. Neri of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), alongside Joselito C. Gutierrez, PhD, Executive Assistant to the SLU President. Together, the partner institutions reaffirmed their pledge to maintain sustainable educational interventions that uphold inclusive learning and child welfare across the municipality. (Article and Photos by JCGutierrez)
