Pasig City gov't raises P1.2 B for tablets, laptops for public school students, teachers

Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto on Wednesday said the local government has raised P1.2 billion to provide tablets, laptops, and learning devices for elementary up to senior high school students and teachers in public schools.

Sotto added that about 2,500 students the from city-run Pamantasang Lungsod ng Pasig (PLP) will be given gadgets worth around P30 million.

"Syempre walang papalit sa face-to-face classes pero alam po natin na sa ngayon, medyo delikado pa at ayaw nating maging breeding ground ng virus ang ating mga paaralan, so magiging distance learning po talaga," he said in a live briefing.

The mayor urged students of PLP to enroll, stressing the loss of the opportunity as they do not need to worry about fees.

"Ito 'yung pakiusap ko sa inyo, mag-enroll po kayo, libre naman po... mag-enroll po kayo, 'wag kayong tumigil sa pag-aaral, 'yan lang po 'yung hinihingi ko sa inyo," Sotto said.

"Sayang po 'yung pagkakataon. Kasi 'yung iba nababalitaan ko baka mag-stop muna ng pag-aaral. 'Wag po. Wala kayong extra na gastos dito, papasok lang po kayo, mag-enroll lang po kayo tapos kami na po bahala sa distance learning," he added.

Sotto assured that every resident will have access to the internet.

"Sisiguraduhin natin na... lahat may access. So 'yung mga walang access sa internet sa bahay puwede po sila pumunta sa mga ibang point kung saan merong local network kung saan puwede i-download 'yung mga file," he said.

Due to the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Sotto said that the situation was not "ideal."

"Sana po by second semester okay na tayong lahat at puwede na pumasok 'yung mga bata. Pero, again, lagi ko po sinasabi ang planning natin lagi po for the worst case scenario. Hope for the best, plan for the worst," the mayor said.

"Again, not ideal, but we will do our best, so that the education of our youth will not stop here in Pasig despite COVID-19," he later added. -- BAP, GMA News