The local government of Manila has allotted PHP994 million to buy tablets and laptops for the blended learning that the Department of Education (DeEd) is set to implement for the school year 2020-2021.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso announced this after meeting with the Local School Board on Friday night as the country grapples with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

He said the 110,000 tablets with SIM cards and monthly 10GB internet load will be distributed to the city’s kinder to Grade 12 public school students for their online classes.

“Naaprubahan na sa school board, which I chair, PHP994 million. Bibili tayo ng 110,000 na tablet para sa mga batang Maynila. Walang tosgas (gastos) na ang mga magulang. (The school board which I chair already approved PHP994,000. We will buy 110,000 tablets for children in Manila. Parents need not to spend),” Domagoso said.

Domagoso said the school board also approved the purchase of 11,000 laptops with pocket Wi-Fi and monthly 10GB internet load for public school teachers.

“Mga teacher, 10,200, ma’am/sir, mga teacher, wag kayo mag-alala me laptop kayong lahat, bibili tayo ng 11,000 laptop. Hindi magarbo pero we will guarantee you na ito ay magagamit nyo sa klase (To our 10,200 teachers, do not worry, we will give you laptops, we will buy 11,000 laptops. These may not be high-end, but we guarantee you, you can use it in your online classes),” he said.

Domagoso said the initial plan was to buy only 91,000 tablets but the board decided to increase the number to 110,000 due to expected influx of students from private schools amid the economic impact of the virus pandemic.

“Naniniwala po ako na yung ibang mga nag-aaral sa pribado, baka kapusin ang mga magulang nila sa hirap ng buhay na dinaanan nitong tatlong buwan baka maraming nawalan ng trabaho at yung kanilang mga anak na nag-aaral sa pribado ay ilipat nila sa pampublikong paaralan, baka dumagsa (I believe that some private school students, whose parents may have lost their job, or had difficulty these past three months, will transfers their children to public school),” he said.

He reiterated his call to parents to enroll their children amid the Covid-19 threat, citing importance of education for the future of their children.

He also urged the teachers to adapt to new ways of teaching.

“Learn fast and adapt. Tyagain nyo lang ang ating mga bata. (Just be patient in teaching our students),” he added. (PNA)

Photo Source: pna.gov.ph