Senator Grace Poe today urged the Senate to reconsider increasing the budget for the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) “Digital  Learners Project” that was slashed from P3.44 billion down to P100 million.

The Senate will consider during its plenary session tomorrow proposed amendments to budgets of different departments, bureaus, agencies and offices of the national government before approving its version of the proposed 2021 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on second and third reading.

The DICT program aims to equip 500,000 students and 25,000 teachers with laptops, pocket WiFi devices, and other gadgets needed for distance learning.

Poe cited the DICT’s Tech4ED program as a possible solution to these educational woes.

The Tech4ED program aims to set up learning centers to provide digital employment and educational opportunities for the marginalized.

She, however, noted that this program also experienced a drastic budget cut from P363 million to a mere P150 million for 2021.  

“Isa ito sa pinaka-kailangan ng taumbayan ngayon lalo na’t maraming nasalantang imprastruktura noong nakaraang bagyo at nawalan ng mga laptop, computer, at gadgets na kanilang kailangan sa pag-aaral at pagtatrabaho,” recalls Poe whose team has been sending relief goods to areas affected by the recent storm. (The people need these, particularly after many infrastructures were damaged or destroyed and lost laptops, computers and gadgets that they need in their work or studies.)

Poe’s team recently made more donations through the Panday Bayanihan Foundation led by its chairman and chief executive officer, Brian Poe Llamanzares.

The foundation staff and volunteers made the rounds over the weekend handing out relief goods in Barangay Tañong in Marikina City and Barangay Paltok in Quezon City and served hot meals for storm victims taking refuge in San Mateo and Montalban, Rizal.

Poe reiterated that these efforts are not enough, saying there is a need for us to build back better and begin making the right investments for the country’s future. 

“This is the time to start rebuilding, so let’s equip people with what they need to start over again after surviving the pandemic and consecutive calamities. Increasing the budget for DICT’s programs would not only help those struggling with distance learning brought about by the pandemic, but would also be essential to people in areas that were directly hit by the recent typhoon that destroyed schools and classrooms in its wake,” Poe said. 

Advocating for the increase in budget for the DICT is yet another call from Poe to invest in forward-looking programs and policies.

She recently advocated for the creation of a department of disaster resilience (DDR).