DOST-ICTO launches Tech4Ed Centers at Ligao City

The Department of Science and Technology Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO), in partnership with the City Government of Ligao, launched the Tech4Ed at Nasisi Barangay Hall, Ligao City on 15 February 2016.

Tech4Ed coordinator Engr. Antonio B. Bonganay demonstrate Tech4Ed features to Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua and participants of the event. Photo courtesy of City Government of Ligao

Tech4Ed is a project designed to “give communities access to information, communication, technology, government services, non-formal education, skills training, telehealth, job markets, and business portals [1].”

Source: facebook.com/Tech4EDCenters

Two Tech4Ed Centers are established in Ligao City: one in Nasisi servicing Mayon unit and one in Paulba for the upland communities. Each center has three computer units and one IT specialist assigned by the City Government to assist the users. Nasisi Barangay Captain Jurlan N. Buello was thankful to have a Tech4Ed Center in his barangay as this will enhance the learning experience of his constituents and experience online access to government services.

DOST-ICTO Luzon Cluster III Director Reynaldo T. Sy said that Tech4Ed caters to all sectors. Unlike in the previous years, ICT aimed to educate the people, especially students, but with Tech4Ed, ICT now aims to educate various sectors (i.e. indigenous people, government employees, entrepreneurs,students, educators/teachers, OFWs, PWDs, senior citizens, andout of school youths and adults) and give easy access to government services through the internet.

Tech4Ed focal person Engr. Antonio B. Bonganay demonstrated during the launching the features and usage of the technology. Among the features of Tech4Ed are:

• e-EduSkills which include PDF modules for Alternative Learning System learners, the Learning English Applications for Pinoys (LEAP) training software, eSkwela learning modules, Online TESDA courses, and e-Library 
• e-Assist which provides learning materials for entrepreneurs and job seekers including ICT for Financial Literacy, ICT for Entrepreneurs, ICT for Digital Literacy, and ICT for Career Development
• e-Govserve which provides various users access to government services. Among these services include:
• BaLinkBayan for OFWs
• BIR online information
• DTI Registration
• GSIS information
• Application for Birth Certificate and NBI Clearance

With the assistance of a Tech4Ed Center manager, the services can be accessed through tech4ed.com.ph.

Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua encouraged the participants to use all opportunities for personal growth and career development as these will help them rise from poverty. The advancements in technology make for greater opportunities to disseminate information and deliver services efficiently. The City Government has assigned an IT specialist to facilitate the learning experience of Tech4Ed users in the centers and maximize the usage of these services. Lala Peñafiel/albay3d.blogspot.com


[1] e-Filipino Tech4Ed. Accessed 15 February 2016 at http://icto.dost.gov.ph/major-programs-and-projects/e-filipino/e-filipino-technology-for-the-economic-development-tech4ed/

61-year old mother finally gets high school diploma

On 12 July 2015, 57 learners graduated from the Alternative Learning System (ALS) at the Department of Education (DepEd) Division office, Ligao City. One of them is the 61-year old mother of five and a resident of Barangay Ranao-Ranao, Lilia L. Nepomuceno. 

61-year old Lilia L. Nepomuceno finally receives her high school diploma with her husband.

A mother’s dream

“Narito ang isang ina na minsang naghangad ng sariling diploma, [Here is a mother who once dreamed of having her own diploma]” said Nepomuceno during the graduation ceremony. Nepomuceno have always dreamed of having her own high school diploma but due to poverty she was forced to leave her second year in high school and work as house help in Metro Manila. In 2007, Nepomuceno heard about the ALS program but felt hesitant to join the program. Then finally on January 2014, she joined ALS.

Despite her and her husband’s lack of resources to finish secondary level education, they were able to give their children full support to finish school. Their five children have successfully reached tertiary level education with bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, nursing, commerce, and education. Seeing her children achieve and settled with good education, Nepomuceno decided to finally reach her lifelong dream of achieving a high school diploma through the ALS program.

57 graduates received their diploma on 12 July 2015 for finishing the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program and passing the Accreditation and Equivalency (A & E) Examination on 14 December 2015. With them are Ligao Women’s Club President and former Ligao City Mayor Linda P. Gonzalez (6th from left), Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua (7th from left), Assistant Schools Div. Superintendent Ma. Luisa P. Samaniego (center), city councilors, schools division supervisors, faculties, and local officials.Photo courtesy of City Government of Ligao

Nepomuceno, like her fellow graduates of ALS, passed the Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Examination held last 14 December 2014. They all received a certificate signed by the highest official of DepEd, Secretary Armin Luistro.

When asked about her plans after graduation, Nepomuceno said that she might help in the barangay as her way of giving back to the community.

Age does not matter

Fe J. Pradia (left) graduated from ALS with flying colors.

Aside from Nepomuceno, Fe J. Pradia a 54-year old resident of Ranao-Ranao, Ligao City also found a turning point of her life when she met Lorna Besin, a Literacy Volunteer in East District.

Pradia is a native of Leyte. Like Nepomuceno, she did not finish high school due to lack of resources. She also took a job as house help to make ends meet. In 1994, she settled down with her husband in Ligao City.

When Besin went to her house to talk about the ALS program, Pradia was hesitant to join the program because she was conscious about her age. Besin told her, “walang matanda o bata dito [age does not matter here].”

Pradia did not only finish the program with good standing but with flying colors. She was awarded with Best in Math and Science, and Best in Sustainable Use of Resources/Productivity.

Pradia plans to take vocational course in culinary to improve her skills which she can use to improve their food vending business.

Towards “Zero Out-of-School Adults”

ALS has changed the lives of many out-of-school youths and adults. Like Nepomuceno and Pradia, many were deprived with formal education due to lack of resources. However, poverty did not hinder them to realize and achieve their goals no matter how old they are.

As Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua said in her speech, poverty should not hinder people in learning. Those who are born from poor families should not die in poverty, and that poverty should not be for lifetime. Every person holds his own fortune.

The 57 graduates were only among the hundreds of people who reaped the benefits of ALS. Most of the ALS graduates pursued a college degree and became professionals.

ALS is a program of DepEd that gives the marginalized people an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills by bringing education closer to their homes. It aims to target the “zero out-of-school adults” to which the graduation ceremony theme, “Walang kabataang Pilipinong maiiwan [No Filipino youth will be left behind]” was anchored.

Former Ligao City Mayor Linda P. Gonzalez also urged the graduates to spread the word, to inform other out-of-school youths and adults about the beauty of ALS.

The local government, non-government organizations, and other government agencies are partnering to develop and implement programs for the marginalized and underserved communities. In the previous months, Ligao City held graduation ceremonies for the first batch of dressmakers who passed and received a National Certificate II in Dressmaking, and for the 100 farmers who finished a season-long training in organic vegetable production. Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez is also making a major contribution to improve the learning experience of out-of-school adults. He has donated laptops and projectors to help the learners experience e-learning.

Written by Lala Peñafiel 

3rd District of Albay to construct 13 school buildings

To address the shortage of classrooms in primary and secondary schools, new school buildings will be constructed in the 3rd District of Albay. In the first batch of the 2014 Infrastructure Program of Albay 3rd District Engineering Office, Department of Public Works and Highways, three (3) school buildings will be constructed at Ligao City, four (4) at Pioduran, and six (6) at Jovellar:

Ligao City:
Amtic Elementary School
Bonga Elementary School
Paulba National High School

Pioduran:
Basicao Interior Elementary School
Lagaan Elementary School
Mamlad Elementary School
Pioduran Elementary School

Jovellar:
Bagacay Elementary School
Lilibdon Elementary School
Mamlad Elementary School
San Vicente Elementary School
Tagas Elementary School
Jovellar National High School

City turns over 2-storey building to Ligao East Central School

The City Government of Ligao turned over the newly constructed two-storey building to Ligao East Central School.
Photos by Dante Dayandante

The City Government of Ligao turned over the two-storey building with 12 classrooms to Ligao East Central School (LECS) on June 6, 2014. Lead by City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua and Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Evangeline P. Palencia, the symbolic key was turned over to LECS Principal Alex M. Alano.

The construction of the two-storey building began during the administration of former Ligao City Mayor Linda P. Gonzalez. According to her, the vertical construction of the two-storey school facility was the best strategy they could have since LECS has very limited space.

Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez also congratulated the City Government of Ligao for having the project accomplished. The cityhood of Ligao paved the way to many opportunities including higher budget allocation to the local government, according to Congressman Gonzalez. This also gave way to many opportunities for facility improvements and government projects including the replacement of old and obsolete classrooms.

Dr. Palencia also extended her commitment to work hard to maintain the good standing of Ligao City. She also mentioned that Ligao City is getting high results in the National Achievement Test (NAT) and it has gathered the most gold medals among other divisions in Region V during the Palarong Pambansa.

Beside the two-storey building is an on-going construction of additional ten classrooms for the school. Each classroom has a capacity of at least 25-35 students.

Soon to rise: Pio Duran Community College

Pio Duran Community College will soon have its campus at Caratagan, Pio Duran through the efforts of Pio Duran Mayor Henry Callope and Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez.

The community college campus will consist of a two-storey building with eight classrooms. Additional rooms will be constructed in the coming years to accommodate more students.  A budget of six million pesos (P 6M) will be allotted for the construction of the school facility.

Mayor Callope, on the other hand, said that documents are now being processed to identify which technical courses will be offered at Pio Duran Community College. While courses are yet to be finalized, the local government plans to make the campus an extension of Pio Duran National High School. In which case, high school students will occupy the facility during the day and college students at night.

Mayor Callope also foresees the decrease in enrollment rate in vocational courses in the coming 2016 due to the implementation of K-12 in secondary education. Hence, there is a need for a careful planning on the implementation of vocational courses in the community college.

Ligao National High School Extension soon to rise at Nasisi, Ligao City

The Ligao National High School (LNHS), Ligao City’s largest public high school, will soon have its Extension campus at Nasisi, Ligao City under the governance of Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua and Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez.

The construction of the LNHS Extension aims to provide and bring quality education closer to high school students from barangays Nasisi, Nabonton, Binanowan, Herrera, and Sitio Tobgon in Batang. Nasisi Barangay Captain Jurlan Buello, one of the proponents of the joint resolution, said that the establishment of LNHS Extension will help the students and parents save time and transportation expenses when going to school. Likewise, the students can focus more on their studies without spending too much time and energy going to school, said Barangay Captain Buello.

The LNHS Extension will be constructed at the back of Nasisi Covered Court and will consist of a two-storey building with ten classrooms. The allotted budget for the project is 6.9 million pesos. 

SOON TO RISE: The LNHS Extension will be constructed at the back of Barangay Nasisi Covered court.

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.