The journey towards innovation begins today as the Iloilo provincial government takes the lead in technical-vocational education in secondary schools with the establishment of the MoRProGRes TechnoHub at Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School (CNCHS).
This P15-million state-of-the-art facility is the first school-based technohub in the country.
Funded through the Provincial School Board Special Education Fund, the hub is envisioned as a future-ready learning and innovation center for public school students.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. emphasized the provincial government’s commitment to leveling up Iloilo’s educational system by integrating hands on and skills-based learning in public schools.
"We want to tell you that tech-voc is not a lesser option. The Philippines will not develop without tech-voc," he said.
The TechnoHub will offer hands-on learning and exposure to cutting-edge fields including Drone Technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), 3D Printing, and Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
Technical-vocational programs will also be offered in collaboration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
In fact, a glimpse of what the Technohub can help produce was showcased during the groundbreaking ceremony when Edmerl Christ Tiongson, a student from Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School, demonstrated the school’s entry to the World Robot Contest 2026 Malaysia Championship. Tiongson’s representation to the world competition is a proof of the potential of young Ilonggo innovators when their skills are nurtured.
Governor Defensor said the MoRProGRes TechnoHub is also intended to help address the country’s growing needs for skilled human resources.
“We want our educational system to produce the human resource that we need. We believe that majority of the human resources our country needs are those belonging in technical-vocational,” he said.
The governor led the groundbreaking ceremony of the MoRProGRes Iloilo TechnoHub today, August 11, 2026. He was joined by Vice Governor Lee Ann Debuque, Cabatuan Mayor Elizalde Pueyo, OIC-Office of the Schools Division of Iloilo Dr. Ruby Therese Almencion, CNCHS School Principal IV Valente Lauro, and DepEd Assistant Regional Director Dr. Miguel Mac Aposin.
Partner agencies likewise expressed their support for the initiative. Among those present were Department of Science and Technology VI Regional Director Engr. Rowen Gelonga, TESDA Acting Regional Director Esther Babalo, and TESDA Iloilo Provincial Director Florencio F. Sunico Jr.
The provincial government plans to scale up the initiative by establishing a MoRProGRes TechnoHub in all of Iloilo’s five congressional districts.