(Photo courtesy of Wescom)
MANILA – The Puerto Princesa, Palawan-based Western Command (Wescom) has assisted the Department of Education (DepEd) in transporting some 3,542 laptops that will be used by public schools in the province.
In a Facebook post Tuesday, Wescom said the laptops were delivered to Puerto Princesa International Airport last April 13 by an Air Force C-130 "Hercules" cargo aircraft.
"The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Wescom facilitated the safe transport of the said computers that are set to benefit 77 schools all over the province of Palawan. (Some) 46 units will be distributed per school to support the teaching and learning needs of the students," it added.
In the post, Wescom said its subordinate units -- Tactical Operations Wing (TOW) West, 3rd Marine Brigade, and Headquarters Support Company -- provided four military trucks to haul the laptop computers from the air base to the DepEd Schools Division Office in Puerto Princesa City.
"The said computers are part of DepEd’s Computerization Program for Fiscal Year 2021. DepEd made the repeat order to support the different schools previously affected by Typhoon Odette during its onslaught more than a year ago," it added.
Wescom said it will continue to take an active role not just in peace and security but also in nation building and development with education as one of the crucial requisites.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy through its Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM), provided DepEd a ship to transport some 5,149 laptops to its Dinagat Island Division last April 16.
In a Facebook post, NFEM said it deployed BRP Tagbanua (LC-296) for this particular sealift mission.
"BRP Tagbanua, is the Navy ship under the operational control of Naval Task Force 71 which undertook the sealift mission from Surigao City pier to Port of San Jose, Dinagat Island. Also, PN Reservists and PA (Philippine Army) personnel in Dinagat Island, Surigao Del Norte joined forces in the loading and unloading of the DepEd laptops," it added.
NFEM said these laptops are intended for the use of teachers and teaching staff of public schools and field offices of the DepEd Dinagat Division. (PNA)
