The Negros Occidental provincial government has donated 239 units of Asus laptop computers amounting to PHP8.365 million to teachers in various public schools across the province.

These were received by the Department of Education (DepEd)-Division of Negros Occidental headed by Schools Division Superintendent Marsette Sabbaluca from Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson in rites held on July 14 at the Capitol Social Hall here.

Ian Arnold Arnaez, DepEd-Negros Occidental spokesperson, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday that each of the division’s 33 school districts is expected to receive six to 10 units, depending on the number of their schools.

“To determine the recipient, each district was asked to submit the names of their teachers for a raffle,” he added.

The DepEd-Negros Occidental covers public elementary and high schools in 19 municipalities as well as two of the 12 cities in the province, including Victorias and Talisay.

Funded through the Provincial School Board, the laptop donation is part of the province’s support to the DepEd’s basic education literacy continuity plan amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a statement, Sabbaluca thanked Lacson for the assistance of the provincial government through various educational projects.

“Even though there is a pandemic, learning has to continue,” she added.

Sabbaluca said the DepEd-Negros Occidental also received financial assistance totaling PHP3.08 million for its Alternative Learning System (ALS) Program.

The cash aid is intended for 40 literacy volunteers, 3,694 ALS learners, 15 Special Education (SPED) literacy volunteers, and 928 SPED learners. (PNA)