e-library for Ilocanos more than just Net access

NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur, Philippines — Targeting students of the province who could not afford to own personal computers and internet access in their homes, the municipal government of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur recently opened a different kind of computer network facility which, municipal officials claim, is the first in the province, if not in the entire Ilocos region.

A project of Mayor Zuriel Zaragoza, the “e-library” is designed strictly for educational use and information-gathering purposes of students and prohibits its use for gaming and social networking purposes.

“We’re putting our money where our mouth is,” says Mayor Zaragoza who stressed that “the project is part of the municipal government’s commitment to providing quality education not only for Narvacenos, but for Ilocano youth in a manner that is in keeping with the technological advancements of our modern times.”

Over the years, the town of Narvacan saw a steady increase in budgetary allotment in the area of education, highlighting the local government’s high priority on education.

“But apart from the library function of the facility through the vast school-related information students may readily get, we shall provide various computer-based training programs that would help accelerate the learning curve of each student, including teaching them how to navigate ‘Project NOAH” of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), where the public gets first hand scientific information on the weather condition in the country, at the municipal level,” Zaragoza continued.

Project NOAH, or National Operational Assessment Hazards, is the DOST’s response to the call of President Aquino for a more accurate, integrated, and responsive disaster prevention and mitigation system, especially in high-risk areas throughout the Philippines. While expected for full operations by 2014, Project NOAH now provides a (site) visitor real-time information on the weather condition, including computer-aided calculations on potential disaster risks.

A recipient of the “Seal of Good House-Keeping” award that came with a grant of P1 million from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Narvacan hopes to get the support of the DOST for the information and education of its constituents on how to access and read the graphs and charts generated from the site of Project NOAH.

“Definitely, with the never-ending onslaughts of disasters that do not spare even young people, it would be best to teach them how to understand the movements of every single disaster, especially typhoons and earthquakes, where our country is constantly prone to. With these added features and purpose, we are basically setting up an electronic hub for our youth’s preparedness, more than a simple e-library,” the Mayor concluded.

At present, a total of 25 online computer stations are available for use at the Narvacan e-facility but Mayor Zaragoza has assured that additional computer units will be acquired soon to accommodate more users.

To ensure the safety of students who will access the facility, the municipal mayor has directed tricycle drivers to adopt a color-coding scheme and implement a logbook system where they should sign in every time they drop or pick up passengers from the facility that is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

All students residing in Narvacan may apply for membership with the e-library, but those coming from other towns that are studying in Narvacan, may also become members.