Talisay mulls village-based study centers.

Instead of putting up a city library, Mayor Gerald Anthony 'Samsam' Gullas Jr. on Friday said the city government here would build learning centers in the clustered villages to cater to the learners' needs for space for research and study.

Gullas said he is coordinating with the barangay officials and the City Assessors Office to identify clustered villages, where they would set up a library-cum-study center on a 30- to 50-square meter public lot.

'And second step is to coordinate with the engineering office to come for a possible design as early as now,' Gullas said.

Gullas said his earlier social media post that the plan to set up 'Aksyon Agad Learning Centers' is his response to queries from his constituents if he plans to build a public library in the city.

'Though I agree that there is a need to put up a public library in our city, I want to take the idea a step further. Rather than putting one library in the center of the city, I plan to prioritize putting up Aksyon Agad Learning Centers in clustered barangays to allow students and learners to avail of library services without going far from their homes,' Gullas said.

'Instead of one big library. My vision is a 'ginagmay pero mas daghan' (smaller but in multiple) approach,' he said.

He said centers spreading in groups of more than one village would not just feature books for reading as he planned to equip them with computer desktops for public use.

'Under the AALC, we plan to create a 10-20 computer setup with free internet, along with study tables and a small library set-up for those who want to read,' he said.

He said upland villages would also have a study center.

'Though we initially plan to set up these AALCs through city government funds, I also want to ask the private sector to donate computers and even reading material. Some businesses and firms have their own corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs as a way to pay back to their communities,' he added