The Manila city government will start next week distributing tablets and laptops to public school teachers and students to be used for blended distance learning.
In a Facebook post, the Manila Public Information Office (PIO) said pocket wifi devices would also be given to teachers while SIM cards with 10GB data allocation would be handed to students.
The announcement was made after Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso and Cherry chief executive officer Maynard Ngu signed a memorandum of agreement on Monday, August 17.
In June, the city government earmarked P994 million for the purchase of tablets, laptops, and internet connection for students and teachers.
Domagoso said then that each of the 10,000 teachers in Manila would receive a laptop and a pocket wifi unit also good for 10 GB a month.
He said there were safeguards to ensure that the tablet, laptop, and internet connection would be strictly used for schooling.
“Particular websites will be blocked, (the) connection (is) dedicated (to) Google, classroom requirements (and) curriculum (of the) Department of Education. Reason the parents should not be apprehensive," Domagoso said.