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FOR PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS
Pres. Arroyo to pour P3-M for Internet link here
November 12, 2006 The Bohol Standard

GOV. Erico Aumentado yesterday sought the release of P3 million from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as her counterpart to the P19.5-million Information and Communication Technology project with Ayala Foundation, Inc. (AFI) that will benefit 115 public high schools throughout the province.

Aumentado presented to President Arroyo a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Provincial Government of Bohol and project partner AFI that is implementing Project GILAS or Gearing up Internet Literacy and Access fir Students.

AFI President Victoria Garchitorena signed for the foundation which will fund half of the P19.5-million total amount of the project.

“The Provincial Government’s share will be divided as follows: Office of the President, P3 million; Provincial Government of Bohol, P3 million; and the three congressmen and the 47 municipalities of Bohol , P3.75 million. This will be our joint counterpart for Ayala Foundation’s P9.75 million,” the governor reminded President Arroyo.

“This is an implementation of our joint public high schools Information and Communication Technology (ICT) program with the help of the Ayala Foundation as embodied in my letter to Her Excellency dated 31 July 2006 which is hereto attached also,” he wrote.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera and Congressmen Edgar Chatto and Roberto Cajes witnessed the signing ceremony Nov. 3 at the harbor View of the Bohol Tropics Resort in Tagbilaran City .

“I trust and request most respectfully that Her Excellency will order the release of P3 million as the counterpart of the province at the soonest possible time in order that we can sign the MOA with Ayala Foundation and implement the project before the year ends,” Aumentado wrote.

Ayala Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit organization. Together with other private corporations, foundations, government agencies and public leaders, it aims to bridge the existing digital divide especially among Filipino high school students.

It recognizes the digital divide as a new form of poverty which is adding to the already compounded challenges burdening the Philippine education system. As such, it initiated Project GILAS to provide the necessary infrastructure that will allow the highs chool students in the public educational system to access the wealth of resources in cyberspace.

On the other hand, the provincial government aims to create effective and efficient policies and structures, adopt appropriate technologies and participatory processes, ensure and safeguard its balance and sustainable development, advance the economic social and cultural well-being of the Boholanos and spearhead the growth and sustain the competitive edge of its prime industries.

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