ITC Ligao: continuing a tradition of excellent service in developing competitive individuals

ITC Ligao plays a significant role in developing the youth

to be competent in information technology and preparing

them in real-life situations.

Seventeen years of excellent service and the Ligao City Information Technology Center (ITC) is still continuously offering computer literacy training to prepare and develop highly competitive individuals.

Aside from the continuous service, ITC Ligao is also a product of good governance that has been a tradition in Ligao City since the time of former Mayor Fernando V. Gonzalez, now Congressman of the Third District of Albay. 

How computer literacy training began in Ligao City 

Humble beginnings

It all started with a fascination. During the mid-1990s, former Mayor Fernando V. Gonzalez became fascinated with his grandchildren’s knowledge in using the Internet that he wanted to share it with the Ligaoeños. In 1997, Mayor Gonzalez and ITC Program Director Fernando Cabredo started offering Internet Literacy Training using only three computers with dial-up Internet connection. In 1998, the ITC offered free computer literacy training to ten selected Grade 6 students from Ligao West Central Elementary School (Poblacion). With no other available facility to use, the computer training was held at the Office of the Mayor.

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The ITC-Ligao began offering free computer literacy

training to students during the time of former Mayor

Fernando V. Gonzalez, now Congressman of the 

Third District of Albay

"This initiative made Ligao the first local government unit in Bicol to offer free training services in computer literacy."

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The financial resources were very limited back then when Ligao was not yet a city. Computer sets were also expensive during the time. But it did not stop them from offering the training services to the people. With a budget of only Php 50,000, the ITC was able to acquire ten second-hand computer sets which they used for conducting the training.

Computer literacy training was later offered to the top ten Grade 6 students from Ligao West Central Elementary School (Poblacion) and Ligao West Central Elementary School (Binatagan).

This initiative made Ligao the first local government unit in Bicol to offer free training services in computer literacy.

Spreading opportunities 

A two-storey ITC building was 

constructed in 2003 to accomodate

more trainees.

During the same year, 1998, computer literacy training was offered to college graduating students of Ligao Community College. The ITC also offered training on Office System Applications where participants are taught on how to use Microsoft office applications such as MS Word, MS Powerpoint, and spreadsheets. 

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"the principle in computer literacy training is the same as learning how to play the guitar – a student must have hands-on experience to apply what he has learned."

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ITC Program Director Fernando Cabredo realized that although college students attend computer courses, there is very little practical experience. Hence the need for more hands-on activities. The ITC then aimed for a training that is “90% hands-on and 10% lecture,” said Cabredo. He added that the principle in computer literacy training is the same as learning how to play the guitar – a student must have hands-on experience to apply what he has learned.

In 2000, ITC started offering System Application Course (OSAC) to the professionals. The OSAC, along with the trainings offered to the Grade 6 students and college graduating students, can be completed in three to four months, according to Dr. Arly Balingbing, the current program director of ITC-Ligao. 

With the increasing number of trainees and courses offered at ITC, a two-storey ITC building was then put up at the Ligao National High School campus at Guilid, Ligao City.

Continuing a tradition of discipline

ITC, as directed by Congressman Gonzalez, must maintain policies to ensure discipline among trainees. This is to avoid the opportunities, such as the free computer literacy training, be taken for granted, according to Cabredo.

back row: ITC graduates are granted a 

Certificate of Completion upon finishing a course at ITC; 

front row, left-right: former Mayor Linda 

Gonzalez, Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez,  

and Dr. Arly Balingbing 

.

Dr. Balingbing said that ITC strictly maintains policies in conducting the trainings. Trainees are only allowed to have three absences; otherwise, they would be terminated from the program. They can re-enroll but only after three years, according to Dr. Balingbing. Certificate of completion is only granted to those who successfully finished the course.

ITC-Ligao is an accredited training center of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Anyone who finished a course at ITC-Ligao will be given a certificate of completion with the TESDA logo.

Developing competent individuals

ITC-Ligao Program Director Dr. Arly Balingbing (left) leads

the training of participants in all levels and all courses

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"...one of the primary purpose of offering free computer literacy training is to prepare the students in real-life situations and give them the opportunity to develop skills and become highly competitive individuals."

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The ITC is playing a significant role in preparing the youth to become adaptable in the fast-paced world of technologies. Most of the elementary graduates that have enrolled at ITC pursue secondary education at Ligao National High School, Bicol Regional Science High School, and Philippine Science High School, said Dr. Balingbing.

ITC trains various professionals including those in the 

government service making them more skilled and efficient

in performing office tasks.

Various professionals have also graduated at ITC, according to Dr. Balingbing. Most of them are teachers, head of schools, doctors of medicine, nuns, lawyers, priests, and even ordinary citizens. Some have taken advanced courses and pursued a career abroad. Many professionals have now advanced in their career including teachers who were promoted to a higher position with the help of ITC training.

Cabredo emphasized that one of the primary purpose of offering free computer literacy training is to prepare the students in real-life situations and give them the opportunity to develop skills and become highly competitive individuals.

ITC Ligao provides hands-on training including tasks performed in the offices like encoding data, inputting data in spreadsheets, and preparing slideshow presentations. Armed with skills in information technology, graduates of ITC-Ligao can have better chances and more opportunities for career development.

Future direction

There are currently 38 computers at ITC-Ligao. The number is 

expected to increase in the coming years to

accommodate more participants

The ITC is currently offering computer literacy training in three groups: Grade 6 students, college graduating students, and professionals.

Top ten students from LWCES (Binatagan), LWCES (Poblacion) and Sta. Cruz Elementary School undergo computer literacy training. This week, however, the training will be extended to the top five students from Batang Elementary School, Layon Elementary School, and Paulog Elementary School.

ITC-Ligao not only offers training to students at Ligao City but also in the nearby towns in the Third District of Albay. College students from Oas Community College, Polangui Community College, Bicol University-Polangui avail the free training. Students from Bicol University main campus can also participate in the training as long as they are residents in the Third District.

The ITC-Ligao is currently using 38 computer sets. The number of computers is expected to increase in the coming years to allow more trainees to benefit from the program.

Dr. Balingbing also sees the opportunity for the ITC-Ligao to become an Assessment Center in the future with experts in the field of information technology.