Lingayen, Pangasinan, Philippines – MapUp sessions kicked off here last Tuesday spearheaded by the provincial government in cooperation with the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office and technology giant Google Inc.
The training sessions will be held in every city and municipality of Pangasinan until Oct. 18.
The project aims to put the province on Google Maps where a rapidly increasing number of Filipinos access essential information as a way of life.
The project is also expected to help promote various localities in the province and their respective points of interest such as tourism, business, academe, health provision, government offices, and services.
The project is also seen as an indispensable tool in the quick response of rescue teams and volunteers during emergency and calamity situations such as the recent massive flooding triggered by monsoon rains that hit Metro Manila and northern Luzon.
Gov. Amado Espino Jr. earlier had expressed full support for digital technology-related projects to help Pangasinenses keep abreast with the latest global technology and be competitive in the long term.
The first MapUp session, held at the Capitol Resort Hotel here, featured a primer course participated in by two representatives each of various provincial offices.
Lingayen has already been partially mapped since last June.
Schedule for the province-wide sessions are Anda and Bolinao, Sept. 17; Agno and Burgos, Sept. 18; Dasol and Infanta, Sept. 19; Sual and Mabini, Sept. 20; Bani and Alaminos City, Sept. 21; Labrador and Bugallon, Sept. 24; Lingayen and Binmaley Sept. 25; Aguilar and Mangatarem, Sept. 26; Urbiztondo and Basista, Sept. 27; Calasiao and San Carlos City, Sept. 28;
Sta. Barbara and Mapandan, Oct. 1; Malasiqui and Bayambang, Oct. 2; Mangaldan and San Fabian, Oct. 3; San Jacinto and Manaoag, Oct. 4; Sison and Pozzorubio, Oct. 5; Laoac and Binalonan, Oct. 8; Villasis and Urdaneta City, Oct. 9; Bautista and Alcala, Oct. 10; Sto. Tomas and Rosales, Oct. 11; Sta. Maria and Tayug, Oct. 12; Asingan and San Manuel, Oct. 15; San Nicolas and Natividad, Oct. 16; San Quintin and Umingan, Oct. 17; and Balungao, Oct. 18.