Community eCenter now operates

in E. Villanueva, Siquijor

by Rizalie Anding Calibo

Province of Siquijor, February 17 (PIA) -- World-wide web, e-mail, instant messaging and other internet applications can now be accessed in this smallest town of Siquijor province, the town of Enrique Villanueva formerly named Talingting.

A Community e-Center (Cec) was established recently and is now operating with five available computer units for public use at affordable prescribed fees.

Located at the ground floor, (southwing) of the its municipal hall, the center offers communication and technology services such as internet, computer printing, encoding, scanning, photocopying, CD burning, greeting cards and program designing, facsimile, and other technology services.

 CeC is the initiative of the Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT) in partnership with the local government  units nationwide to provide the public especially those in the far-flung, unserved and underserved areas,  affordable access to a variety of services using info and communication technologies.

It must be noted that the Philippine Community eCenter Program has envisioned a Community eCenter in every municipality in 2010. To achieve this, the project channeled its energy and resources into establishing at least 200 CeCs in priority areas in every project year, building up a pool of ICT capable manpower for the CeC Center and developing relevant content materials to be utilized by the Community eCenters.

As reported last year, there were 1,027 CeCs in 600 municipalities and cities nationwide.

Established with the support if the Community eCenter Project Management Office (CeC PMO), these CeCs are expected to become self-supporting and independent units that will serve as conduits of information, services and empowerment in their respective communities, and capable  of running their own operations with minimal support from the PMO.

Community eCenters are the backbone of the CeC Program in the country. (RACalibo/PIA-Siquijor/PIA-7)

Siquijor province breeds Gawad Saka national winner

By Rizalie Anding Calibo 

Province of Siquijor, February 17 (PIA)--Another boost to Siquijor province and the pride of the agriculture sector. 

Elnard S. Ympal of San Juan, Siquijor is declared the National Winner for the Young Farmer Category in the 2010 search for Gawad Saka Outstanding Achievers in Agricultural and Fisheries. 

Elnard also received several regional and national awards in the previous competitions, but this year he made it to the top, making Siquijor province all the more proud of him, says Roselyn Bonachita of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist here. 

In a notice sent by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit VII to Provincial Governor Orlando A. Fua Jr. earlier, Elnard is entitled to a cash prize of P100,000, a presidential trophy and a presidential citation which will be given during the awarding ceremony anytime this week. 

Gawad Saka Search for Outstanding Farmers and Fisherfolks is designed to honor outstanding and exemplary achievements of Filipino farmers and fishermen whose contribution have made a significant event to sustain agricultural growth and development among farm sectors particularly in the countryside. 

This search aims to showcase the outstanding achievements and performances of small farmers and fishermen in transforming themselves from a marginal fishermen and traditional producer of farm products, food and raw materials into entrepreneurs and key players as we moved along toward agro-industrialization. (RACalibo/PIA-Siquijor/PIA-7)