RISEAble Program posts early gains; 28 children with special needs move up

The Iloilo City Government’s RISEAble Early Intervention Center marked an important milestone as 28 children with special needs moved up during its Moving Up Ceremony held on May 22, highlighting the program’s early gains less than a year since its launch.

Of the 28 learners, eight are set for full integration into regular classrooms, while 20 will undergo partial integration as part of the center’s transition program.

Gabriel Felix Umadhay, head of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO)-Iloilo City, explained that the center’s goal is to gradually integrate children with special needs into mainstream classroom settings.

The eight learners for full integration will now transition fully into regular classrooms, while the 20 under partial integration will continue attending therapy sessions at the center from Monday to Wednesday and join larger classroom settings on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“The goal is to further develop their socialization skills because this is where communication, independence, and play development come in,” Umadhay said.

He added that admissions for new children with special needs will begin next week, with the center ready to accommodate 28 additional learners this June.

“Overwhelmed gid kami sa support sang mga ginikanan. Wala pa ta ka one year—we are only eight months into operations—but nakita gid sang mga parents nga may changes gid ang mga bata. Consistent ang aton performance kag dako ang role sang teamwork. Indi lang ang teachers ang nagaobra kundi ang parents gid naga-participate sa program,” Umadhay expressed.

The center caters to children aged zero to five years old, who undergo screening and assessment to determine whether they are best suited for placement at the intervention center or in daycare centers with proper interventions.

Barely a year ago, in a move toward inclusive education and social empowerment, the city government under Mayor Raisa Treñas officially launched the RISEAble Program: Kaya sang Kada Bata, expanding support services for children with special needs.

The initiative underscores the city’s commitment to ensuring that every child is given equal opportunity, care, and access to quality early intervention services.

Treñas earlier emphasized the importance of early intervention in helping children reach their full potential.

As part of the city government’s commitment to expand the initiative, Umadhay confirmed that work is now underway for the establishment of the second RISEAble Early Intervention Center in La Paz, beside the Justice Delfin Jaranilla Learning Center, the city’s newest district library hub.

The expansion fulfills Mayor Treñas’ commitment to further strengthen inclusive learning opportunities for children with special needs across Iloilo City. (GST/Iloilo City PIO)