102 out of 111 SUCs in the country report having internet connectivity in main campuses — CHED exec

A total of 102 out of the 111 state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the country have indicated that they have internet connectivity in their main campuses, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) reported on Wednesday.

During the virtual meeting of the New Normal subpanel of the House Defeat COVID-19 Committee, CHED Commissioner Perfecto Alibin acquainted lawmakers with the profile of internet connectivity among SUCs in the country.

The panel was discussing House Bill 6706 which provides for a recovery assistance package for higher education and technical-vocational education and training.

In the profile presented by Alibin, which is based on an ongoing survey of CHED, 102 SUCs indicated having internet connectivity in their main campus, while two stated that they have no internet connectivity.

These SUCs with no internet connectivity are the University of Eastern Philippines and Batanes State College.

Meanwhile, seven SUCs have not stated yet the status of internet connectivity in their campuses, namely Adiong Memorial Polytechnic State College, Mindanao State University - Main Campus Marawi City, Philippine State College of Aeronautics - Main, Palawan State University, Wester Philippines University, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture - Main, and Camiguin Polytechnic State College.

CHED has been proposing a "flexible" mode of learning, which means students will be doing a combined online, offline, residential and non-residential school work, depending on the Internet connectivity of the students, teachers and the higher education institution (HEIs)

House Bill 6709, which Baguio City Representative Mark Go introduced, provides for a recovery assistance package that would help HEIs and technical-vocational institutions (TVIs) to upgrade and rehabilitate their ICT infrastructure and Internet connectivity.

"The Recovery Assistance Package seeks to ensure that any change in the mode of instruction in public and private HEIs and TVIs would not in any way result to a downgrade in the quality of education, create unreasonable burden upon the faculty, and alienate students from vulnerable sectors of our society," Go said in the explanatory note of his bill.

Under the measure, an amount of P1.07 billion will be appropriated for the upgrading and rehabilitation of ICT and Internet infrastructure in SUCs and LUCs, and around P260 million for the upgrade of TESDA Mission Critical Information System and around P241 million for the upgrading of TESDA Technology Institutions.

Moreover, around P244 million will also be appropriated for the capacity building program for TVET trainers in flexible learning delivery.

Financial assistance or subsidy for teaching and non-teaching personnel, trainers and assessors is also provided under the bill, amounting to P2.46 billion in public and private HEIs and around P237 million for private TVIs, including job orders, contract of service and freelance competency assessors.

"The bill seeks not only to supplement in the development of the body of policies that would govern colleges and universities during the pandemic, but ultimately to institute lasting reforms that would lift the state and quality of higher education and technical education in this country," Go said.

Alibin has expressed CHED's support for the bill.

"The education sector is really united, solidly supporting this measure as it caters to the enhancement of equity, upgrading of facilities, particularly the ICT infrastructure," he said. — RSJ, GMA News