Six (6) STARBOOKS were successfully handed over today to their recipient schools in the region. The Six (6) STARBOOKS were successfully handed over today to their recipient schools in the region. The turnover ceremony was held at Luntad Elementary School in Palo, Leyte, wherein the recipient schools are as follows:
- Luntad Elementary School, Palo, Leyte
- Pulang Yuta Elementary School, Caibiran, Biliran
- Hanginan Elementary School, Maasin City, Southern Leyte
- Cuyting Uy Elementary School, Jiabong, Samar
- Eugenio S. Daza Pilot Elementary School, Borongan City, Eastern Samar, and
- Galutan National High School, Catarman, Northern Samar
STARBOOKS, which stands for Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly-Operated KioskS, is a digital library designed to provide access to Science and Technology (S&T) resources, especially for those schools located in the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA).
Before the formal start of the program, the DOST-STII conducted the comprehensive STARBOOKS User Training and Orientation for the teachers of the recipient schools to ensure they were well-prepared to effectively use the new resources and integrate them into their teaching practices.
This successful turnover was made possible through the partnership of the Department of Science and Technology Region VIII, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation, Department of Education (DepEd), DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII), Local Government Unit (LGU) of Palo, and the Provincial Science and Technology Offices (PSTOs) across Region VIII.
The event also received notable support by the presence of Palo Mayor Hon. Remedios “Matin” Petilla, Schools Division Superintendents of Tacloban City and Borongan City, Dr. Mariz S. Magan, and Dr. Edgar Tenasas, respectively, Provincial S&T Directors, Dr. Evelyn Tablante of PSTO Samar, Engr. Veronica Laguitan of PSTO Northern Samar, OIC-PSTD of Leyte Mr. Rhoderick Pacañot, OIC- PSTD of Southern Leyte, Mr. Emmanuel Lagdamen, and representatives from PSTO Biliran, Ms. Grace Villa Lyn, and Ms. Michaela Padagdag, superintendents, and teachers from all the recipient schools in Eastern Visayas.
Represented by Mr. Rhoderick Pacañot, OIC Provincial S&T Director of PSTO Leyte, the DOST VIII Regional Director Dr. John Glenn Ocaña emphasized that STARBOOKS represent a significant investment in knowledge. He highlighted that STARBOOKS provides access to a wide range of educational resources, which not only enhances students’ academic performance but also serves as a driver of economic development in the region.
Moreover, Hon. Petilla expressed her support and gratitude, noting that STARBOOKS aligns with the digitization efforts of her son, Leyte Governor, Hon. Jericho Petilla. She also highlighted her commitment to student nutrition through her program “Gulayan sa Paaralan,” which aims to combat malnutrition and promote locally grown vegetables in schools.
In addition, BPI Foundation pledged its full support for the STARBOOKS initiative, advocating for a brighter future for everyone under the slogan “kasama lahat sa pag-unlad.”
Additionally, DepEd expressed appreciation to DOST-STII, DOST Region VIII, and BPI for their efforts, hoping that the initiative will continue and that all schools in the region will eventually acquire STARBOOKS. They believe that this collaboration will foster educational advancement and contribute significantly to the development of students across the region, preparing them for future challenges and opportunities
All the teachers from the recipient schools delivered acceptance speeches, expressing their gratitude for being selected. They assured that they would maximize the use of STARBOOKS to enhance knowledge delivery and stimulate student interest through the readily available materials.
With the effort of the DOST Region VIII MIS Unit Head, Engr. Florentino L. Quiñones, disclosed in his message that, unlike other regions, Eastern Visayas is fortunate to be one of the few regions in the country to receive six (6) STARBOOKS.
As to recall, DOST Region VIII was recognized this year as the top region for deploying STARBOOKS. He hopes that more kiosks will be introduced in the future to help DepEd reach additional schools and expand access to S&T information. (By Ms. Mary Grace Tariao, DOST8)