Brgy execs complete computer literacy training

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Most of the barangays officials here, particularly those from mountain barangays, have not yet keyed in words in computers. Neither have they any inkling as to how to turn it on, operate it using the mouse and write a letter in the Microsoft Word.

But now, however, such ignorance could be considered as ‘a thing of the past,’ thanks to the training jointly sponsored by the Rotary Club Centerpoint, STI College and the Mindanao Polytechnic State College.

The three pooled their resources together and offered the barangay officials with a one-week hands-on training dubbed as Computer Literacy Program. The training was held at the two STI campuses in Cogon and in Kauswagan and at the MPSC on October 31-November 6, 2006.

Councilor Alexander Dacer, president of the Association of Barangay Councils, said the program is aimed at enhancing the capability of barangay officials.

“This is also in preparation for the adoption of the e-governance next year,” he added.

During the training, the 240 participants were exposed to internet system teleconference, tutorials on operations of word processing, Excel and Power Point presentations.

At the culmination program on Nov. 14, MPSC president Dr. Ricardo Rotoras, who is also the president of Rotary Club Centerpoint, pointed out that the computer literacy course was part of the state college’s extension program.

He expressed optimism that through the computer literacy training, barangays officials will be able to deliver basic services to their constituents faster and implement various project efficiently.

Rotoras said MPSC, STI and Rotary Club Centerpoint shared one goal, that is, to uplift the lives of the people in the barangays through the computer technology.

STI College president Colbert Rabaya, for his part, said its being a proponent of the project is one way of expressing the school’s social responsibility.

As this developed, Dacer urged his colleagues to include in their 2007 budget allocations for the purchase of computer units and accessories.

In a related developed, Dacer exhorted his colleagues to attend a seminar on Systems and Procedures Manual in Monitoring Barangay Funds and Properties slated on the last week of this month.

At the recent ABC general assembly, City Auditor Olivia Flores said the seminar is aimed at familiarizing the barangay officials on the new procedures, even as she added that barangays will enjoy full fiscal autonomy starting next year.

She said that starting 2007, barangays will be the ones managing their funds, subject however, to existing laws, rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit. (Raul G. Moldez)