DepEd Usec. Alain Pascua says the department will proceed with the implementation of the 2nd phase of the Public Education Network Program this year during a press conference held at the Dumaguete City High School on March 22, 2021. (KAT/PI7-NegOr)
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 31 (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) will proceed with the second phase of its Public Education Network (PEN) this year.
“This is about P700-million worth of connectivity program. We will be connecting the last mile schools via satellite connection. This would provide our teachers and our learners connectivity to the internet kahit yan nasa bundok (even if they are in the remote areas),” DepEd Usec. Alain Pascua told local reporters in a recent media engagement here.
PEN is a collaborative effort between DepEd and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) to address internet connectivity issues especially in schools in remote areas, and establish a connection linking them to their respective DepEd Division offices.
PEN has six phases and Phase II involves connecting 3,332 remote schools to the Core Network of DepEd through satellite technologies.
“Last Mile School” refers to public schools in areas where it would take more than one hour of travel and are accessible only through difficult terrain.
The said schools usually have less than four classrooms which could be either makeshift and non-standard, have no electricity with no funds for repair or construction for additional facilities.
Pascua gave this statement in response to a question raised during the event which is about the updates on DepEd’s Computerization Program for Teachers and Learners.
The DepEd official assured that the department continues to find ways to provide internet connectivity for both teachers and students so that they have access to quality education amid the pandemic.
Part of their connectivity program for teachers is the provision of a three-month worth of connectivity load which is equivalent to 100 GigaBytes (GB) of data allocation.
“We will provide all teachers, all personnel of DepEd, a three-month connectivity load of about 100GB. What’s 100GB for three months? This is like spending 1GB of connectivity everyday. You can join virtual conferences for eight hours in a day. You can watch Youtube channels eight hours a day using the 1GB. Ganyan kalaki yan. Kapag hindi mo gaano ginagamit ang 1GB magro-roll over yan for the next 6 months (That’s how big the allocation is. If ever you won’t be able to consume the 1 GB daily allocation it will roll over for the next six months),” Pascua explained.
He noted that this is currently under procurement but this will be rolled out soon.
On the part of the learners, DepEd will distribute Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment to students especially in remote areas so that they can continue their education.
Pascua disclosed that the department is forging a partnership with various agencies and instrumentalities to provide these ICT equipment to learners.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC), which is under the Department of Finance, donated batches of top-of-the line laptops, tablets, and smartphones to DepEd for distribution to students.
These gadgets were either confiscated, mis-declared, undervalued, or smuggled.
Instead of destroying them, BOC opted to it turn it over to DepEd for the benefit of the learners.
Several local government units (LGUs) have also turned over ICT equipment for public schools in their localities.
Aside from students, teachers will also receive their own laptops.
“That is how different instrumentalities in government, not only DepEd, not only DICT, not only the DILG but including the LGU, the city of Dumaguete and the province of Negros Oriental and the different municipalities and cities here in the province. Soon we will be realizing the establishment of the Public Education Network where all schools and all offices will be connected via internet and all available technology,” Pascua said.
Pascua, together with DepEd-7 officials, turned over around 3,000 units of laptops, smartphones, and tablets to 14 schools in Valencia, Sta. Catalina, Siaton, Amlan, and San Jose on March 19. (ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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