ILOILO — The provincial government here broke ground on a P15-million facility at Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School, launching what officials describe as the country’s first school-based technohub.

Funded through the Provincial School Board Special Education Fund, the MoRProGRes TechnoHub will provide public school students with hands-on instruction in artificial intelligence, drone operation, 3D printing, and information and communications technology.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. led the groundbreaking ceremony alongside Cabatuan Mayor Elizalde Pueyo, Department of Education (DepEd) officials and local representatives.

Defensor said the facility is intended to modernize public education by aligning student skills with evolving workplace demands and stressed that technical-vocational training should be viewed as a primary career path rather than a secondary alternative, citing its role in supplying skilled labor to the national economy.

In addition to emerging technology training, the hub will offer technical-vocational courses in partnership with DepEd and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Meantime, the Department of Science and Technology Region VI is also supporting the program’s development.

During the ceremony, student Edmerl Christ Tiongson demonstrated a robotics project set to compete in the World Robot Contest 2026 Malaysia Championship.

Provincial leaders pointed to the project as evidence of local students’ potential to compete internationally when provided adequate resources.

They also plan to expand the initiative by establishing a MoRProGRes TechnoHub in each of Iloilo’s five congressional districts, creating a provincial network dedicated to innovation and technical skills training.