P300-M gadgets for Parañaque students, teachers

The local government of Parañaque City will be providing P300 million worth of gadgets to public school students and teachers to prepare them for the opening of classes in August amid the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a statement on Sunday, Mayor Edwin Olivarez said 7,000 tablets would be distributed to kindergarten and Grade 1 students as well as 300 laptops for public school teachers who would also get an internet allowance.

According to City Treasurer Anthony Pulmano, the tablets with SIM cards and laptops would be delivered in July. He added that the city government was scouting for a location for cell sites in the city’s two districts should the national government push through with its decision to hold online, instead of face-to-face classes, on August 24.

Olivarez supported the Department of Education’s plan to shift from the traditional classes to blended learning due to the threat of COVID-19.

He appealed to parents to guide their children in their education, even though they may also be busy at work.

Junior and senior high school students, on the other hand, will get their P6,000 annual allowance, totaling P200 million.The budget for the devices and allowances of high school students amounting to P500 million will be sourced from the city government’s special education fund. INQ