The 30 additional trainers produced by Tanauan CeC

A total of 30 participants attended the 3-day Philippine Digital Literacy for Women Campaign (PDLWC) Lead Trainers Training sponsored by the PhilCeC program and the PhilCeCNet in partnership with the Municipality of Tanauan at the SB Session Hall in Tanauan, Leyte last March 20 – 22.

This was participated by the local government units of Tolosa, Ormoc, Jaro, Tanauan, Julita, Javier, Kananga, Sta. Fe and Babatngon in the Leyte Province; Balangkayan and the Provincial Government of Eastern Samar in Eastern Samar, Paranas in Samar Province and Palapag in Northern Samar Province. This was also well represented by the 11 eSkwela Centers in Ormoc City, Leyte.

The training was facilitated by Ms. Claire Fernandez, the Regional IT Coordinator for Region 8 from the National Computer Center and the Mr. Eugene Ramos, the CeC Manager of Tanauan, Leyte.

The Training used the Intel Easy Steps program which taught the participants basic computer skills focusing on the five modules of the training namely Introducing Computers and Operating System, Internet and Email, Word Processing, Spreadsheets and Multimedia.

The Tanauan CeC Team also shared their presentations which they use in the conduct of their trainings in the Tanauan CeC and the Computer Literacy Campaign in the Barrios. Mr. Ramos also shared the Tanauan experience highlighting the challenges, problems and their solutions to the operation of the campaign.

With the Philippines' response to train 10,000 women this year, the participants themselves committed to train at least 40 to 450 women ranging from the municipal employees as lead trainers down to the grassroots women.

The positive testimonies about the campaign and the training also filled the whole room with excitement and assurance. According to Mr. Reynaldo Aragon, the eSkwela Division Coordinator in Ormoc City, the Intel Easy Steps program would be very useful in their roll – out of the Philippine Digital Literacy Women’s Campaign. The Easy Steps was indeed very easy to learn. He is extending his gratitude to PhilCeCNet and the Municipality of Tanauan for sponsoring the training which he believes will contribute to women empowerment especially in achieving the goal of producing a society of computer literates.

Ms. Helen Cadalin, a Provincial Planning Officer of the Province of Eastern Samar, said that the training was indeed focused on assisting the grassroots women and she plans to implement this program especially in the barangays.

Finally, Mr. Polcomar Canonce, the Planning Development Officer of the Municipality of Barugo also expressed his commitment of using the Intel Easy Steps Program and the campaign in training especially the different women groups in Barugo. He also wants focus on training the entrepreneurs on basic computer literacy focusing on the Internet and Email, Word Processing, Spreadsheets and Multimedia.

During the closing program, the municipal mayor, Hon. Agapito Pagayanan, Jr., shared his administration’s dedication in bringing the computer literacy program closer to his constituents in the barrios. Though he himself admits that it entails hard work and 100% commitment to implement this program, he is overwhelmed by the advantages that the digital literacy campaign continues to bring to his constituents, especially those located in the remote barangays.