The Balsa Aralan is an initiative of the Department of Information and Communications Technology – Mimaropa with its DICT Palawan Provincial Office in partnership with the DepEd Mimaropa.
First-ever floating ICT classroom brings digital connectivity closer to a remote island in Palawan.
DICT Mimaropa launched the BALSA Aralan Tech4Ed Center – the first-ever floating Tech4Ed Center built and facilitated to reach even the far-flung areas and floating villages in the municipality of Balabac, Palawan.
The Tech4ED Center is a floating ICT classroom featuring a two-story flat raft with laptops, and essential ICT equipment, Free Wi-Fi to enable beneficiaries to access digital content and other learning materials, instructional resources, and television sets for audio-visual presentations. It also has a comfortable room and a restroom where teachers and beneficiaries can take a break while traveling.
“Floating ICT Classroom” aims to bring digital learning to Balabac, Palawan, promising easier online access to local communities.
Sitio Tagtigum, one of the beneficiary communities of the floating ICT classroom, is a floating village part of the coastal Balabac. Out of the range of mobile phone signals, the community can only rely on a two-way radio for communication.
With DICT’s advocacy to bridge the digital gap in far-flung areas, the Office proactively installed Free Wi-Fi for All to benefit not only learners of the BALSA Aralan but also connect the community.
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