ANGELES CITY – Fulfilling his promise that “no Angeleño children will be left behind” when it comes to education, Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. has begun the initial distribution of 2,000 tablets to five public schools here on Saturday.
Mayor Lazatin turned over 359 tablets to Cutud Elementary School; 493 tablets to Marisol Bliss Elementary School; 859 tablets to Epza Resettlement Elementary School; 215 tablets to Pulung Cacutud Elementary School; and 91 tablets to Leoncia Elementary School.
The distribution of tablets to other schools is set to be scheduled from October 15 onwards.
“I am asking for the understanding of parents and teachers, since napakataas po ng demand ng tablets sa mercado kaya ito na po ang earliest na madedeliver sa atin ang mga inorder natin,” Lazatin said.
Initially, the city government has allocated P161 million for the procurement of 48,000 tablets to be used by Grade 4 to 12 students in their online classes.
But with the unexpected high volume of enrollees for the coming school year, the city government purchased additional 10,000 tablets for the city’s 53 public schools, augmenting the total 58,000.
Mayor Lazatin is urging both students and their parents not to worry, as the city government will double its efforts in making sure they receive the tablets they will be using for their online classes, immediately.
“Huwag po kayong mag-alala, basta po naka-enroll yung mga anak ninyo sa mga public schools’ ng siyudad at kasalukuyang nasa Grades 4 to 12, makakatanggap po sila ng kanya-kanya nilang tablet,” Lazatin said.
Meanwhile, the city government has also released a set of guidelines for students and parents who will be receiving the said tablets.
The set guidelines aim to remind the recipients that the “tablets are intended to aid students in coping with the Online Learning System,” and should be used for learning purposes only.
Moreover, the guidelines also state that “the devices shall be treated by the students as borrowed items only for the duration of the year, and they are required to surrender them to the school administration by the end of the year.”
Once the tablets are returned in good condition, only then will the students be given a Clearance Certificate, which will be used as a requirement for the issuance of their final grades.
Mayor Lazatin appeals to all students who will be receiving the said tablets, to be responsible in handling and using them for the duration of the school year.
“Ingatan po sana natin ang paggamit sa mga tablet na ito, upang mas marami pang estudyante ang makinabang dito sa mga darating na taon,” Lazatin explained.
IN PHOTO: Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., (in black face mask) ccompanied by Chief Adviser and Tactician Director IC Calaguas, turns over an initial 2,017 units of tablets to five public schools in the city on Saturday. This is part of the city government’s initiative to assist students in the transition to the “new normal” way of schooling.