President Arroyo launches information hub project in Bataan

MARIVELES, Bataan: President Gloria Arroyo on Sunday launched a component of the multimillion-peso Bataan Information Hub (iHub) project at the Mariveles National High School with an eye to getting all public high schools in the country connected to the Internet.

She also lauded Rep. Albert Garcia of Bataan’s Second District for initiating the P14.5-million iHub project, which is building an information communication techonology-enabled community in 14 high schools in the district.

The district has a student population of 23,9656 and a total of 769 teachers.

Rep. Carissa Coscolluela of Buhay Party-list, who donated 65 computer units to Mariveles National High School, said the project would bring down the ratio of computers to students from one computer to 98 students (1:98) to 1:50. “iHub would improve the computing skills of the young people in Bataan,” she said.

Mrs. Arroyo, with the assistance of the congressman and his father, Gov. Enrique Garcia, Mayor Jessie Concepcion of Mariveles and Coscolluela, also handed Certificates of Award for computers to all public high schools in the towns of Pilar, Orion, Mariveles, Limay and Bagac and the City of Balanga.

The certificates involve the distribution of 500 personal computers units with accessories, 14 laptops, 14 LCD TV, 14 WiFi Routers and printers with accessories, productivity tools and software to 14 public high schools.

The President has recently signed Republic Act 9715, placing the 45-kilometer Mariveles-Bagac Road, the only unpaved perimeter road in the peninsula, eligible for funding by the national government. –Ernie B. Esconde, Manila Times