Davao City Rep.Paolo Duterte (File photo) MANILA - Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte is pushing for a measure seeking to establish at least one e-learning center in every city and municipality in the country to improve the availability and accessibility of online learning amid the ongoing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. In filing House Bill 453, Duterte said the continued proliferation of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic is taking a toll on the Philippine educational system, as he stressed the need to alleviate its repercussions on the quality of the educational system and the well-being of students and teachers by making alternative modes of learning more accessible. "To eradicate these hindrances in our educational system, this bill seeks to establish at least one E-Learning Center in every municipality and city in the country. It shall serve as a venue wherein people from all walks of life could have access to information and communication technologies. This shall benefit not just the youth but also adults who seek to gain further knowledge and develop new skills," Duterte said in the bill's explanatory note. The bill was filed on June 30 and was released to the media on Friday. Duterte pointed out that since distance learning has been incorporated as the primary mode of learning during the pandemic, it was observed that a number of students, as well as teachers, have struggled with such mode of learning due to lack of resources. He added that a number of students even decided to stop their studies due to additional barriers they cannot easily overcome. The bill states that e-learning centers shall make available printed materials, such as books, journals, newspapers, magazines, posters, maps, and charts; audio-visual aids or media; digital devices, such as desktop or portable computers and electronic blackboards to access online courses, e-books, and other online resources; a space provided with stable and secure wi-fi connection; and a venue for alternative learning classes, lectures, seminars, and other learning activities. Additional e-learning centers shall be established such that there is one e-learning center per 50,000 persons in every city and every municipality with a population of more than 100,000 persons. When an e-learning center already exists, its upgrading shall be undertaken, while existing public libraries and reading centers shall be upgraded into an e-learning center or their materials and system be digitized. The Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways, shall undertake the construction of e-learning centers or the repair and rehabilitation of existing e-learning centers. The National Library of the Philippines shall provide the standard set of relevant printed and audio-visual materials and shall digitize its catalog and collections to provide free and full offsite access. The Department of Information and Communications Technology shall provide the necessary infrastructure to ensure reliable Internet connection and maximize digital technology in e-learning centers. (PNA) }