San Remegio lauded as first to carry out DOST’s ICT project

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) has recognized the municipality of San Remigio in Cebu to be the first in the country to implement a project that aims to bridge communities through the use of ICT.

In Cebu Province, only San Remigio and the cities of Mandaue and Naga have trained managers to oversee the operation of the Tech4ED Project.

On August 28, San Remigio concluded the Center Managers Training that was attended by 25 representatives from the different barangays and public schools.

Tech4ED Project Lead, Ana Clarissa Navarro, said San Remigio is the first town nationwide to implement the project when it started on September 2 the training of out-of-school youth and jobless community members.

“This is a good tool for us. I could see the potential for San Remigio. Now that Tech4ED is here, the municipality of San Remigio will be one of the most competitive towns in the province of Cebu,” said Mayor Mariano Martinez.

Martinez expressed his all-out support for the Tech4ED project as he believes that San Remigio has so much potential for development.

“We need projects like this for us to be able to keep up with our ASEAN neighbors,” he said.

Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, Engr. RomaricoCabellon, said it is also very important that the center managers have a clear understanding of what the center has to offer.

“We want the people to know that there are a lot of services they can avail; halimbawa, kung gusto mong kumuha ng Birth Certificate, pumunta ka lang sa Tech4ED center, less hassle na mase-save mo pa ang oras at pera mo,” said one of the participants.

The project of the DOST-ICTO aims to establish Tech4ED centers all throughout the country that will open ICT enabled gateways for education, opportunities, services, markets and productivity.

The Tech4ED centers will operate on a single platform and a sustainable model.

DOST-ICTO works in partnership with local government units to establish the Tech4ED Centers.

Equipped with complete tools, the Tech4Ed Center is located at the Community eCenter of San Remigio.

“Kini usa katalagsaon dungog nga na angkon sa San Remigio. Ang uban mga LGU sa nasud, wala pa maka sugod hangtud karon,” said Cabellon, also the town’s CeC manager and regional project coordinator.

Cabellon added that the wireless network facilities damaged by typhoon Yolanda will soon be restored and all the 27 barangays will have access to internet and will be online.

The CeC in San Remigio was established on October 7, 2005 after the National Computer Center selected the local government unit as one of the pilot areas for the establishment of a CeC under the “Jumpstarting Electronic Governance in Local Government Units (eLGU) Project”.

NCC provided the hardware, software and technical training of the staff and the LGU’s counterpart contribution includes office space, furniture and fixtures, connectivity, air-conditioning unit, personnel, power, and maintenance. The CeC is currently run by the local government. —/ATO (FREEMAN)