Grant program for strengthening CeCs now open for applications

Written by Jasmine Alexandra
Friday, 05 February 2010
If you want your Community eCenter to be leaner, meaner and fitter, then this grant is for you. The Philippine Community eCenter Program Management Office (PhilCeC PMO) is now accepting the first batch of applications for the Strengthening CeC Grant Program for the current project year. Applicants in the grant program get to choose between four grant packages designed to improve, upgrade and beef up a CeC’s existing services. The four packages are: • Equipment package The equipment package grant seeks to augment the CeC’s need for hardware and equipment to reinforce the services and output of the CeC and, possibly, to expand the number of services offered by the CeC. • Scholarship package This grant seeks to provide CeC workers the knowledge and skills necessary in CeC management, through the formal courses of the telecentre.org-Philippine CeC Academy (tPCA). • Connectivity package The connectivity grant will address the CeC’s need for connectivity and access through the provision of a free subscription to an Internet service for one year. • Study visit package In the study visit grant, CeC knowledge workers will be given the opportunity to visit other CeCs to exchange knowledge, experiences and success stories in CeC management. A study visit is a valuable tool for learning as it allows CeC managers nationwide to share and replicate successful practices in their own CeCs.
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San Fernando CeC opens portal to hope and positive outlook

Written by Ricardo
Monday, 08 February 2010
San Fernando CeC core group orientation held last Feb 2 On February 2, the municipality of San Fernando, Camarines Sur held its first CeC core group orientation. For the members of the CeC core group, the orientation was a most awaited moment, a realization of what their community has been dreaming of: having their own CeC. Having a CeC in their municipality gives hope and aspirations to many of the constituents of San Fernando, especially the opportunity to use and learn the available ICT services. Present during the CeC orientation were San Fernando Mayor Fermin Mabulo, Vice Mayor Joseph Ragay, and DALSC/eSkwela mobile center manager Rosa Olitoquit. Also present and expressing their support were the CeC core group, members of the Sangguniang Bayan and the eSkwela mobile teachers. “ICT is a lever, and thru the CeC, it is a tool that will help us to make a better and well-developed community,” says Mayor Fermin Mabulo. He also emphasized the importance of communication between the local government unit (LGU), the CeC and the community. “Working without ‘leverage’ between the LGU and the community will be like moving a huge stone to a place [where] you hardly want it to be.”
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Carmona CeC has new home; strong partnership to help CeC expansion in remote barangays

Written by Marina

Monday, 08 February 2010

The Municipality of Carmona established the Katsumi Onda Computer Literacy Center in the People’s Technology Complex, Special Economic Zone in Carmona, Cavite. The center, now the official station of the Community eCenter (CeC) of Carmona, was made possible through the yearly financial assistance given by the Onda Group of Japan to the said municipality.

Through the efforts of Carmona Mayor Roy M. Loyola, the Onda Group, represented by Mr. Tatsuya Baba, have been made part of Carmona’s CeC core team, together with the representatives of the Department of Education (DepEd), the Parents-Teachers Association, members of the cooperative sector and senior citizens group. Mr. Baba was present during the Philippine CeC Program orientation and he expressed his appreciation on the various services the CeC is offering.

Aside from the CeC’s current computer literacy program, the CeC core team is also planning to establish satellite CeCs in the remote barangays of Carmona. With their strong partnership with the Onda Group, Carmona is optimistic that they will be able to acquire the necessary computers and equipment to deliver ICT services in these remote areas.

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