San Carlos City leads digital inclusion with Tech4ED learning hubs

Recognized as a model local government unit (LGU) by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), San Carlos City in Negros Occidental has advanced digital inclusion among its citizens through access to learning hubs in communities for the past 10 years.

Since 2015, the northern Negros city has established 17 Technology for Education, Employment, Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (Tech4ED) centers, the highest among the 31 LGUs in the province.

“They have the most number of Tech4ED centers. They are the only LGU-model to implement Tech4ED in each barangay,” DICT-Negros Occidental Provincial Officer Mary Jane Agonace told the Philippine News Agency in a recent interview.

Through the Tech4ED-Digital Transformation Center Program, the DICT aims to establish sustainable centers that provide ICT-enabled services and skills development opportunities for socio-economic development, mainly in underserved and unserved communities, and to support the strengthening of the digital capacities of citizens.

In San Carlos City, Tech4ED is the flagship digital literacy initiative, leading to the establishment of centers designed as learning hubs offering various services, including e-government services, specialized skills training and digital literacy programs.

The 17 centers, supervised by 33 managers, offer courses under a comprehensive six-month training program, focusing on basic computer operations, English applications, basic photo editing, and AutoCAD (computer-aided design).

From 2016 to date, the Tech4ED Program has produced 4,628 graduates, comprising out-of-school youth, persons with disabilities, senior citizens and other scholars, based on the data provided by the Information Technology and Computer Services Office (ITCSO).

The success stories of the scholars are proudest achievement of the city government in the Tech4ED initiatives.

According to the ITCSO, the graduates are involved in city-wide ICT projects such as VAMOS Cares, a community mobile application offering reliable e-services; Social Services System or SOCSERV, a system streamlining access to social benefits; and electronic business one-stop-shop or e-BOSS, an initiative simplifying business registration.

Others are employed in the city government offices, call centers and private institutions, while those who have stayed with the program are helping enhance the impact and reach of Tech4ED.

In June, the ICTSO turned over to the center managers the Tech4ED module, which introduces a systematized tracking system integrated into the San Carlos Integrated Management System.

The module enables better management of enrollees, monitoring of yearly graduates and accurate recording of daily operations across the Tech4ED centers.

“We have 18 barangays in San Carlos City. We already have 17 centers. We will open four more for all the barangays to each have their own center. We have two centers in Barangay Rizal. All the upland barangays already have their own centers,” Imee Beryl Geducos, project development assistant and Tech4ED supervisor, said in an interview on Saturday.

Aside from the Tech4ED main office and the City Public Library, the other Tech4Ed Centers are located in Barangays I, III, Codcod, Buluangan, Rizal, Rizal-Sitio Caticlan, Palampas, Bagonbon, San Juan, Ermita, Prosperidad, Quezon, Nataban, Guadalupe and Punao.

Also in June, the DICT-Negros Occidental trained the 33 center managers on basic photography and photo and video editing essentials to enhance their creative and digital content skills, which are key tools in promoting digital literacy, community engagement, and inclusive e-governance.

Moving forward, the Tech4ED centers will soon launch a refresher course for former students whose certificates are already more than five years old and introduce online operations courses.

Dynamic co-working spaces

Initially created as training venues, the Tech4ED centers have evolved into dynamic co-working spaces serving a diverse community including students conducting research, entrepreneurs developing ventures, and job seekers preparing applications.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the centers ensured continuous learning, remote work and digital access for residents.

Last year, the Tech4ED centers also served as training venues for Elevate AIDA (Artificial Elevate Intelligence Data Annotation), a program that provided comprehensive digital training, tools and employment opportunities, and prepared 100 women in San Carlos City for work in the artificial intelligence industry and data annotation field.

To make learning spaces more accessible, the city government opened a co-working space at the Tech4ED main office in June.

Amenities at this space include free Wi-Fi access, designated study and research areas, computer laboratories, and collaborative workspaces.

Through the Tech4ED Program, San Carlos City champions the belief that digital education is not just a tool, but also a transformative catalyst for social progress and empowerment.

Tech4ED embodies the city’s dedication to inclusivity by bridging the digital divide and ensuring that no one is left behind as San Carlos transitions toward a digital future.* (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)