San Juan, DICT distribute gadgets to students

MANILA, Philippines — The San Juan government yesterday turned over gadgets to thousands of public school students for distance learning, a move that the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) vowed to replicate in remote areas in the country.

The DICT has given San Juan 12,500 tablet computers, 1,000 laptops and 1,000 pocket WiFis to be distributed to nine public elementary and three high schools in the city.

Mayor Francis Zamora said Grade 3 up to Grade 6 students of Pinaglabanan Elementary School would receive laptops and WiFis.

The school has been chosen to pilot test the DICT’s digital learning project.

“The tablets and laptops given by the DICT are more than enough for the enrollees we have this school year. There’s enough if there are late enrollees,” Zamora told reporters.

He said the city did not shell out any funds for the project, adding that the gadgets were procured by the DICT.

Zamora said 375 public school teachers in San Juan were given laptops as early as January.

The government has been providing cities and municipalities nationwide with gadgets for students, DICT Secretary Gringo Honasan said after the turnover rites.

He assurred students in remote areas that they would receive distance learning tools from the DICT.

Government agencies are addressing power supply problems in some areas, according to Honasan.

Asked about internet speed and connectivity problems, Honasan said the DICT appealed to telecommunications companies to offer free WiFi amid the coronavirus pandemic.