Muntinlupa City Government turns over 20,000 tablets for public school students

In an effort to help local learners in the ongoing distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the City Government of Muntinlupa has provided several tablet computers for local public school students. Mayor Jaime Fresnedi recently turned over 20,000 units of mobile tablets to the Schools Division Office – Muntinlupa, led by Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Dominico Idanan, to be given to underprivileged public elementary, junior, and senior high school students.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (4th from right) turns-over 20,000 tablets to Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Dominico Idanan (center) and student representatives last January 8. Fresnedi says the initiative aims to help Muntinlupa students access online learning resources and help them adapt to the changes and challenges of the new normal in the education system. Earlier, the local government also turned over the first batch of 2,557 laptops and 28 photocopiers to the Schools Division Office for public schools and teachers. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)
A few of the many tablets that were turned over for the benefit of public students of the city. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)

Fresnedi says the initiative aims to help Muntinlupa students access online learning resources and help them adapt to the changes and challenges of the new normal in the education system. The turn-over ceremony was attended by public school principals and some student representatives.

Previously, the City Government also turned over the first batch of 2,557 laptops and 28 photocopiers to the Schools Division Office for public schools and teachers.

“The City Government of Muntinlupa will continue to support our teachers and students to adapt to the changes of the education system, no one will be left behind. We will ensure that everyone can access all kinds of learning modalities whether online or offline,” Fresnedi said.

This past January 4, the City Government also inaugurated the Muntinlupa Mobile Learning Hub, the first innovative roving ‘learning bus’ in Metro Manila to teach city residents about disaster resilience.

The learning bus is equipped with state-of-the-art Virtual Reality area where residents can wear VR headsets to experience being in ‘close-to-actual’ scenarios of disasters including earthquakes, flooding, storm surge, bomb explosion, chemical poisoning, volcanic eruption, tsunami, and landslide. The VR facility aims to provide immersive, visual and sound-based experience of weather disturbances and calamities and to train residents on disaster response.

Further, the DDRM Mobile Learning Hub has an interactive Lecture Area with informative videos on COVID-19 Protective Measures, Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness, First Aid Response and Management, and Basic Life Support, among others.

Public Information Officer Tez Navarro said the Learning Hub will visit several barangays and health and safety protocols will be strictly implemented. Regular disinfection of the facility will also be conducted.

Navarro noted that the learning bus will also be used for the information campaign of the City Government on COVID-19 vaccination.

As of January 7, Muntinlupa City has 48 active cases, 5,152 confirmed cases with 4,937 recoveries, 167 reported deaths, 23 suspect cases, and 287 probable cases.

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The above information was provided by the City Government of Muntinlupa for the purpose of public information and transparency. Some parts were edited for this website.

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Muntinlupa approves ordinance to ban weekday karaoke and other distracting noises during online classes

In a bid to assist students and teachers during synchronous classes, including employees on a work-from-home set-up, the City Government of Muntinlupa is banning the use of videoke and other activities that create unnecessary noise disturbing residents in their study time and work at home.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi signed City Ordinance 2020-142 regulating the use of karaokes, videokes, and other similar equipment causing noise pollution in the community during weekdays and limiting its use and operation on weekends.

Fresnedi said the City Government recognizes the challenges of city residents in adjusting to distance and blended learning, as well as the working public, and how loud noises can distract them from concentrating on their activities.

Under the local ordinance, the use of karaokes, videokes, and other sound-making devices will only be allowed from 6:00am to 10:00pm during Saturdays and to 6:00am to 8:00pm during Sundays.

However, public announcements made by local and national government agencies using sound-producing machines/devices are exempted from the implementation of the ordinance. Residents who will violate the ordinance shall be penalized with a fine from P2,000.00 to P5,000.00 or imprisonment of not more than thirty (30) days, or both.

Members of the Philippine National Police-Muntinlupa, Public Order and Security Office, City Security Office, Barangay Chairpersons and their personnel are set to augment monitoring and roving operations in the community to implement the regulation on videokes and other noise-making devices.

Recently, the City Government of Muntinlupa provided the first batch of 2,557 laptops and 28 photocopiers for public school teachers in a bid to help them adapt to distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

All Muntinlupa public school teachers in elementary, junior and senior high schools, including school heads, will each receive a brand new laptop with specifications prescribed by the Department of Education. Students who are in need will also receive tablets to help them access online learning resources.

Further, the Muntinlupa City Council also passed an ordinance imposing relaxed curfew hours in the city from 12:00 AM to 4:00 AM until November 30 and 12:00 AM to 3:00 AM beginning December 1 during the Community Quarantine.

The City Council also approved the easing of age-based stay-at-home restrictions allowing persons who are at least 18 and not over 65 years old in Muntinlupa to go out of their residence unless expressly prohibited under the national and local issuances.

As of October 26, Muntinlupa City has 4,609 confirmed cases with 4,390 recoveries, 69 active cases, 150 reported deaths, 114 suspect cases, and 403 probable cases.

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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release. Some parts were edited for this website.

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NOT to distorted views and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, engagements, commerce and updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

My Observations: National Campus Press Freedom Day Signed Into Law Making July 25 A Declared Date Of Observation

July 25 of every year will mark the observation of National Campus Press Freedom Day in all educational institutions.

This is the result of Republic Act Number 11440 (National Campus Press Freedom Day Act) that was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on August 28 and it was only yesterday (September 10) that a copy of the document (which includes signatures of Senate President Tito Sotto and then Speaker of the House Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) was released to the media.

“It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote, protect, and safeguard the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression, speech, and of the press,” the law read.

“As part of media, the campus press is an important institution in promoting and protecting the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression. As a testament to its remarkable contribution in the continued advancement of these freedoms, the State shall, as a matter of policy, promote the observance of July 25 of every year as ‘National Campus Press Freedom Day’,” it added.

Under RA 11440, educational institutions are mandated to provide full support and assistance to the preparation of the annual program of activities and events to be conducted by students in observance of National Campus Press Freedom Day.

It remains to be seen, however, if the campus press (specifically the news publishing divisions) of academic institutions nationwide would warmly embrace RA 11440.

Another thing to point out is whether or not National Campus Press Freedom Day will add anything at all on inspiring student writers to learn better and improve their craft before graduating and searching for writing-related jobs.

On face value, the campus press is supposed to help students develop their skills in writing news, features and opinions, as well as verifying the facts. Such orientation is supposed to help these future professional writers find the right companies (that offer writing posts) for jobs from the national-level press right down to the local communities.

If you – the reader – are one of those aspiring to work professionally as writers in the near future, be aware that there are some local community publications around that prefer to publish propaganda (self-serving and promotional in nature) instead of practicing real journalism. The good news here is that there are lots of writing-related jobs offered by companies (including those founded by foreign investors) here in the Philippines that focus more on marketing, SEO (search engine optimization), client-specific documentation and other types of writing jobs that are different from journalism and propaganda.

You really want to work as a professional writer with a competitive salary and attractive benefits? Search for jobs in the corporate sector and the national-level media outlets.

In today’s world of social media and widespread wireless access to the Internet (with multiple Wi-Fi spots present nationwide combined with more Filipinos acquiring smartphones), accessing news online is gradually becoming the more preferred way for people looking for news. Going back to National Campus Press Freedom Day, we will find out soon enough if it will help improve the standards of students aspiring to be writers and news searchers.


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