The Iloilo provincial government has inaugurated a teen center building that will serve as a safe, inclusive and empowering facility for the Ati students of Cabudian National High School in the municipality of Dueñas.
The DOMINA (Dueñas Organization of Motivational Initiatives in Nurturing Adolescents) Satellite Teen Center 2.0 caters to 329 secondary students, of which half are members of the Ati community from the Ati community and the Panay Bukidnon tribe in the neighboring municipalities of Calinog and Lambunao.
The facility officially opened its doors to Dueñasanon youth, following its inauguration ceremony led by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. on August 4, 2025. The governor was joined by Vice Governor Lee Ann Debuque, Mayor Robert Martin Palma, Provincial Population Office chief Atty. Ruel Von Superio, Board Members Rolando Distura and Dominic Paul Oso, Assistant School Principal II Marilyn Jison, and DepEd Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Jerson Labos.
Jison thanked Governor Defensor for giving them a facility that will serve as a “haven and a space for the learners to express themselves.”
The teen center building will be serving adolescents from Barangays Cabudian, Bagongbong, Jaguimit, Pader, Sawe and Batuan in Dueñas and from Barangays Dalid, Gama Grande, Gama Pequeno, Tahing in Calinog.
“The facility gives them a space where they can confide about their crush and family concerns to the coordinators and peer helpers. Through this way, we inject in our youth the spirit of love, understanding, and compassion,” Jison said.
The DOMINA Teen Center is also a symbol of the provincial government's commitment for culturally sensitive projects tailored to the challenges faced by indigenous students.
Population Program Officer Jemar Harold Jison said Cabudian NHS offers Indigenous Peoples Education (IP Ed) which they will soon incorporate to the DOMINA Teen Center.
Governor Defensor said the Teen Center 2.0 project is the Iloilo provincial government’s approach to total youth development, with the teen center serving as the extension of our home. The Teen Center 2.0 is an upgraded version of the existing school-based multi-purpose teen center project, which involves the construction of a building dedicated for adolescent health and youth development programs.
“Not everything about your social life is addressed inside the classroom. That is why we have this teen center for your psychosocial well-being. This building is yours and you should own it,” the governor told the Cabudian NHS students.
The DOMINA Satellite Teen Center is the fourth completed building under the Teen Center 2.0 of the Provincial Population Office.
The PPO has previously inaugurated the teen center buildings at Nicomedes R Tubar Sr. National High School in San Dionisio, Cabalic National High School in Balasan, and Alberto Sorongon Sr. Memorial National High School in Pototan. They are among the 10 initial recipients of the Teen Center 2.0 project.