Even before learning of the Philippine Community eCenter (CeC) Program, Mayor Dominador G. Esma, Jr. had already planned to set up an e-library for the municipality of Alegria. When he got the news about the CeC Program, he did not think twice about accepting the invitation to host a CeC in their municipality. To date, Alegria is the only mainland CeC recipient in Surigao del Norte.

After signing the Memorandum of Agreement during the Cagayan de Oro leg of Convergence 2009, an orientation was conducted for Alegria on February 8, 2010 at the municipality’s function hall. The orientation was attended by forty-three participants from various sectors to include heads of offices, barangay officials, core group and SB members and other key municipal officials.

The orientation was designed to tackle the different questions the participants had about the CeC Program. Alegria’s orientation discussed the program, what it is all about, the key players, the roles and responsibilities of the municipality as CeC recipient host, the packages they are entitled to, the services they can offer and how the local government unit (LGU) can benefit from the CeC.

“With Internet technology, we can actually offer many services,” says CeC Manager Ryan T. Abarico.

One of the presentations that caught the interest of the participants was the success stories of other CeCs. Seeing these CeCs successful and thriving gave Alegria the encouragement to start their own CeC by applying what they think would be worthy and helpful for their fellow citizens.