The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday received more than 5,000 learning gadgets to be used by students who are under distance learning - particularly those who are currently enrolled in online learning delivery modality.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones officially accepted the learning gadgets from the Bureau of Customs (BOC). “I appreciate the fact that even way before, Customs has always been helping the DepEd,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.
The turnover was conducted at the BOC Situation Room in Manila attended by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, Briones as well DepEd and BOC officials. Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez was also virtually present.
Briones, at 81, physically visited BOC to show her “appreciation” to the assistance that the office has been giving DepEd over the years. “What makes this more meaningful for us in the department is that Customs continues to support education and it is articulated in these donations,” she said.
The BOC gave DepEd 5,038 devices composed of 4,840 smartphones and 198 units of laptop. These will be distributed to students who are under distance learning - especially those in the online modality. “It always gives us so much joy and happiness to have something that we desperately want and it is given to us - but the joy is greater when we didn’t ask for anything,” Briones explained.
Briones said that the donated learning gadgets are important to DepEd especially now that education is moving towards the utilization of technology. “It is more meaningful to us because right now, we recognize that we have to move to the direction of technology as we nurture and teach our learners,” she added.
The learning devices donated to DepEd are composed of Oppo A9 and A31 mobile phones as well as Huawei Mate mobile devices. The gadgets were part of the apprehended items of the Port of Clark which were being transported out of Clark Freeport Zone.
Briones said that the learning gadgets would also help in DepEd’s initiatives to minimize the use of printed modular materials since this is not sustainable. “For each computer, for each tablet that you donate, perhaps, we are saving a few more trees,” she added.
The donations were made possible through the provisions of RA 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and with the approval of Dominguez who also expressed his support to DepEd’s distance learning program. Briones also thanked the Finance Chief for “always prioritizing education.”
Also present in the turnover ceremony were DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua and Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio.