Bus to bring IT to far-flung schools

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Science and Technology has donated a mobile information technology classroom to the provincial government, which would enable Capitol to bring its IT campaign to the remote areas in the province.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Second District Rep. Pablo Garcia, DOST-Science Education Institute Director Ester Ogena, DOST-7 Regional Director Rene Burt Llanto and Assistant Regional Director Carmelita Dulangon signed the Memorandum of Agreement yesterday.

Rep. Garcia said he facilitated the donation of the bus after he was informed that DOST owns five buses purposely for mobile IT education.

“Dako gayud kaayo ang akong kalipay nga ang mga opisyal nato sa DOST misanong gayud sa atong gihimo nga awhag ngadto nila,” Rep. Garcia said.

Rep. Garcia clarified that the mobile IT bus will not only serve his district, but will travel across the province.

Governor Garcia, for her part, also said the mobile IT classroom will help expose students in schools located in far-flung barangays to the importance of information technology.

Meanwhile, Ogena said the donation is also in line with the efforts of DOST to expand its IT program to the barangay level.

She said that they closely coordinating with the local government units and in Cebu the provincial government.

Alabastro, DOST 7 Director Rene Burt Llanto, DOST-Science Education Institute Director Ester Ogena,

The bus, an air-conditioned 32-seater bus with 16 working tables and an independent stand alone power supply, is equipped with the latest in education technology facilities.

The bus was fabricated by Daewoo based on the original design developed by the Metals Industry Research and Development Institute (MIRDC).

It can accommodate 32 students at one time and in areas where there is no electricity. The mobile bus provides the power needed to make the computers and other equipment work.

Inside the vehicle is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Projector for both computer and video projection on a wide screen (in place of the blackboard). Seventeen computer units are also installed to expose elementary, high school students, and science and technology teachers to state-of-the-art education technology through the use of ICT. — THE FREEMAN