Manila to spend P994M for tablets, laptops, data connection for students, teachers

The Manila City government has earmarked P994 million for the purchase of tablets, laptops and internet connection for students and teachers which are necessary for distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said Monday. 

Moreno said the funding was sourced from money supposed to be allocated for school activities, including sportsfests, and classroom building constructions. These are not necessarily a priority under the new normal given the prohibition on mass gathering and requirement of social distancing pending a vaccine against COVID-19, he added. 

“May datos po ang DepEd [Department of Education] na may three students per household, kaya one household, one tablet. Four hours [ang usage ng tablet] per student, twice a week. 10 gig [gigabyte or GB] a month per student [ang data allocation]. They think that would be enough,” Moreno said in an interview over Dobol B sa News TV.

Each of the 10,000 teachers in Manila, on the other hand, will receive a laptop and a pocket Wi-Fi unit also good for 10 GB a month. 

“10 gig po kasi may mga PDF file at mga visuals na kailangan i-access during the [online] class,” Moreno said.

Likewise, Moreno assured that there are safeguards to ensure that the tablet, laptop and internet connection will be strictly used for schooling. 

“Particular websites will be blocked, iyong connection po ay dedicated sa Google, classroom requirements at curriculum ng Department of Education. Kaya iyong nangangambang mga magulang, huwag po kayo mag-alala,” Moreno said.

“Challenge po ang distance learning sa mga mag-aaral, guro at mga magulang, and providing the technology is the way that we can continue to educate our children at this time of COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, I also believe that Manilans are smart enough to understand the gravity of the situation, and that they are going to use their assistance responsibly,” Moreno added.

Per Moreno, Manila is expecting 275,000 students to enroll for the school year 2020 to 2021 which will open with distance learning on August 24. 

The said number, however, excludes possible transferees from private schools given that household incomes have been reduced due to quarantine measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Philippines has recorded 21,895 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday. Of this number, 4,530 recovered while 1,003 died. —Llanesca T. Panti/KG, GMA News