by Larry Lopez
    
TABUK, Kalinga, March 31  -   The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to distribute 60 units of personal computer to government schools in the province under its computers to public schools program.

Rowena Boston of DTI-Kalinga said the program, now on its fourth phase since 2001, has already distributed 180 computers units to public schools here.

The program is a tie-up project between the DTI and the Japanese government, which provides free computer units particularly to public schools in rural areas.

Boston explained high school students coming from rural areas usually are disadvantaged on the use of computers when they go to college and this is what that the program aims to address.

Under phase 4, six high schools are candidate-beneficiaries that include Kalinga National High School (KNHS) - Tabuk main campus, KNHS - Asibanglan Annex, Pinukpuk, KNHS - Ambato Annex, Tinglayan, KNHS-Mananig Annex, Pinukpuk, KNHS-Salegseg Annex, Balbalan and Rizal National School of Arts and Trade (RNSAT), Rizal.

Boston, however, clarified the listing of the six candidate-beneficiaries is not yet final as it needs further validation whether support facilities on safekeeping and electric power are available in the school.
After the final validation, the units will be delivered to the schools in time for the opening of classes this school year.

Boston appealed to recipient schools to take proper care on the use of the units since these are new and branded computers from Japan. *(LL-PIA-CAR,Kalinga)