City dad to help address NOHS computer needs

BACOLOD City Councilor Em Ang, an alumnus of the Negros Occidental High School Class 1980, will help look for means to address the school's need for computers for the use of their Communication Technology students.

Councilors Ang and Distrito with Councilors Dindo Ramos and Al Victor Espino have recommended that the city will donate computers to the said school but was not pushed through when the matter turned controversial.

Ang said that it is sad that projects such as this could not be materialized because of politics. Others have dragged her in the controversy despite the fact that they are helping the school address their needs.

Even before, she and her batch mates and class mates were actively helping their Alma Mater look for funds for the needed projects.

In 2005, she used her own personal funds to start the construction of a chapel inside the NOHS and some of her classmates helped too.

Inday Espina, a seasoned journalist also helped in past in the donation of books for the NOHS library.

They also solicited the help of the provincial government during the time of former Gov. Joseph Maranon for the renovation of the school quadrangle where most social activities of the school were held.

"It is not only now that our Class has asked for donation. We are helping one another on how we could help our Al Mater who was instrumental in molding us as to what we are today," she said.

The City Council has already authorized Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia to sign a memorandum of agreement with NOHS Batch 81 for the supposed donation of the computers. But it will not push through. The donation of the computers might happen if they can source out donations from private donor and no longer from the City.

NOHS Principal Mario Amaca recently said that the Information Communication Technology (ICT) students badly need the computers which are supposedly be donated by the City.

This donation amounts to P1.2 million which apparently become controversial.

Principal Amaca said that the request was made by Technology and livelihood Education (TLE) teacher Richard Lao and himself to Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia thru Councilor Distrito who is an alumnus of the NOHS.

Amaca said that he did not wrote Councilor Ang but Mayor Leonardia and Distrito.

Councilors Distrito, Em Ang, Dindo Ramos and Al Espino have recommended this donation for the welfare of the students.

These computers are supposedly be used by Grade 7 students on their ICT subject.

For now, they are using the "Jurassic aged" computers but could not fully address their needs for computers.

These computers were requested last Dec. 13, 2012.

"I leave it to the councilors on how and what means they could provide the said computers. Our only concern is only to request it and if they grant it, we would appreciate it very much. These computers are best aid for the attainment of the academic excellence of our students. More than that is already beyond us," he said.

The city has planned to donate 20 computer sets but due to recent developments, they decided to call it off considering that other political candidates have used the issue to advance their political interest.

But Principal Amaca appealed to the city to push through the donation because this is what the students and the school need.

He asked that they be spared from political bickering and let this legitimate need be realized.

Lao, in the letter explained that these computers are needed by the students because one of the programs focuses on web page design and accounting.

"Our objective is to reach a ratio of one is to one wherein every student should have one computer for them to have a better learning experience than sharing computers without the time of letting them do the hands on. Our way is to do this is through donation and we chose our city to be one of the benefactors in helping our students learn comfortably and appreciate the subject," he said.

He is handling Grade 7 students and they are 17 of them and only three computers are functional.

A student also asked that the city will continue the donation because the students still rent from the internet cafes when they have something to learn and submit their assignment. (CNC)