BAGUIO CITY – Department of Education-Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) formally opened the city’s first Inclusive Learning Resource Center (ILRC) in an inauguration ceremony held at the Baguio City Special Education (BCSPED) Center on June 18.
The newly launched ILRC is the second in the region, following the first established at the Benguet Special Education Center in La Trinidad. This initiative aligns with RA 11650, or the Inclusive Education Act of 2022, which promotes inclusive education for learners with special needs. The facility aims to help students with special needs develop their full potential and become empowered citizens of society.
To cater to the diverse learning needs of the students, the ILRC offers ten service areas: Management Service Area, Assessment Service Area, ICT Skills Development Area, Bridging Service Area, Speech and Language Therapy Area, Occupational and Behavioral Therapy Area, Physical Therapy Area, Water or Hydrotherapy Area, E-Library and Instructional Materials Area, and Daily Living Skills Development Area.
“We firmly believe that diversity enriches the learning experience and through the comprehensive resources and innovative programs that an institution offers. We aim to empower learners with disabilities to participate fully, confidently and meaningfully in all facets of school life,” said Rommel Manzano, the school head.
BCSPED was identified as a candidate for ILRC conversion during School Year (SY) 2021-2022. Planning started the following school year, and renovation of rooms to service areas took place in SY 2023-2024 with the use of DepEd program support funds. A second batch of funding was released in SY 2024-2025 for necessary supplies, equipment and assistive devices.
Vic Emerson Danao, Supervising Education Program Specialist from the DepEd Bureau of Learning Delivery, reports that the facility is 90% complete in terms of supplies and equipment but emphasized the need for classrooms and personnel.
“In these coming months, the Baguio City ILRC, as well as the Benguet SPED Center, and all the other ILRCs will be receiving program support funds that will be used for the operation of the ILRC, included for this program support fund is [for] the ILRC to allow them to hire [a] multidisciplinary team on a contract service basis muna. This is a step-up measure while awaiting for the permanent items that we requested to be prepared,” he announced.
The team is expected to include various specialists and therapists, such as occupational therapists, psychometricians, psychologists, physical therapists, efficiency specialists, language specialists, reading specialists and other professionals who will deliver holistic services to students.
The newly established ILRC now focuses on hiring and deployment of qualified specialists and personnel to operate its service areas. By Aiyra Marzan