STARBOOKS NEWS

Bridging Digital Divides: 49 New STARBOOKS Units Turned Over in Sultan Kudarat

November 4, 2024

by DOST XII - Department of Science and Technology - Region XII

Embodying pride and commitment to the #OneDOST mission of providing innovative solutions and opening opportunities for all, the Department of Science and Technology Region XII, through its Provincial S&T Office in Sultan Kudarat, formally turned over 49 units of STARBOOKS to various municipalities and schools in the province today, November 4, 2024. The turnover ceremony took place at the Sultan Kudarat Sports and Cultural Center in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, as part of the Inter-Agency Flag Raising Ceremony hosted by the Provincial Government.

In his message, DOST XII Regional Director Engr. Sammy P. Malawan highlighted the significance of this endeavor in advancing educational resources and promoting digital inclusivity in Sultan Kudarat. The STARBOOKS project, an initiative pioneered by the Department of Science and Technology – Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII), embodies DOST's unwavering commitment to addressing the pressing need for accessible information, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) across the nation.

Recognizing the digital divide faced by many rural areas, STARBOOKS was ingeniously designed to operate entirely offline, requiring no internet connection. As RD Malawan emphasized, "π‘Ίπ’Šπ’π’„π’† π’Šπ’•π’” 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒉 π’Šπ’ 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏, 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑩𝑢𝑢𝑲𝑺 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 π’‚π’π’π’š π’Šπ’ π’π’†π’‚π’“π’π’Šπ’π’ˆ, π’‘π’“π’π’—π’Šπ’…π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 π’˜π’Šπ’•π’‰ 𝒂 𝒗𝒂𝒔𝒕 π’“π’†π’‘π’π’”π’Šπ’•π’π’“π’š 𝒐𝒇 π’”π’„π’Šπ’†π’π’„π’† 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’•π’†π’„π’‰π’π’π’π’π’ˆπ’š π’Œπ’π’π’˜π’π’†π’…π’ˆπ’† π’“π’Šπ’ˆπ’‰π’• 𝒂𝒕 π’•π’‰π’†π’Šπ’“ π’‡π’Šπ’π’ˆπ’†π’“π’•π’Šπ’‘π’”β€”π’†π’‡π’‡π’†π’„π’•π’Šπ’—π’†π’π’š π’ƒπ’“π’Šπ’…π’ˆπ’Šπ’π’ˆ π’†π’…π’–π’„π’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’π’‚π’ π’ˆπ’‚π’‘π’” 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’Šπ’π’”π’‘π’Šπ’“π’Šπ’π’ˆ π’„π’–π’“π’Šπ’π’”π’Šπ’•π’š."

This latest activity facilitated the turnover of an additional 45 STARBOOKS units to selected schools and municipalities, bringing Sultan Kudarat’s total to an impressive 171 units and marking the 673rd units installed nationwide. RD Malawan further noted, "𝑬𝒂𝒄𝒉 π’–π’π’Šπ’• 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂 π’ˆπ’‚π’•π’†π’˜π’‚π’š 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 π’˜π’π’“π’π’… 𝒐𝒇 π’”π’„π’Šπ’†π’π’„π’† 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’•π’†π’„π’‰π’π’π’π’π’ˆπ’š, π’ƒπ’“π’Šπ’π’ˆπ’Šπ’π’ˆ π’†π’”π’”π’†π’π’•π’Šπ’‚π’ π’π’†π’‚π’“π’π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 π’„π’π’‚π’”π’”π’“π’π’π’Žπ’” 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 π’Žπ’‚π’š 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 π’π’Šπ’Žπ’Šπ’•π’†π’… π’ƒπ’š π’ˆπ’†π’π’ˆπ’“π’‚π’‘π’‰π’š 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 π’π’π’˜ π’π’Šπ’Žπ’Šπ’•π’π’†π’”π’” π’Šπ’ π’‘π’π’•π’†π’π’•π’Šπ’‚π’."

Parallel to this, the Honorable Governor Datu Pax Ali S. Mangudadatu of the Province of Sultan Kudarat expressed profound gratitude to DOST XII for its steadfast support in advancing the development of the SOCCSKSARGEN Region and contributing to national progress. The Governor also highlighted that these inter-agency initiatives exemplify public service at its finest, showcasing a unified effort to elevate local communities, empower stakeholders, and promote inclusive economic growth.

Meanwhile, Provincial Director Ms. Zenaida D. Guiano of PSTO Sultan Kudarat passionately reiterated DOST's mission of bringing its programs and services to every corner of the countryside. She emphasized DOST’s commitment to ensuring that even the most remote communities experience the tangible benefits of science, technology, and innovation, making a real difference in the lives of Sultan Kudarat residents.

Following the ceremonial turnover, the STARBOOKS Administrators' Orientation was held at Kalimudan Hall in the Division of Sultan Kudarat Office. This vital session brought together 49 dedicated administrators and ICT coordinators, eager to learn about the STARBOOKS kiosks. The orientation provided a comprehensive understanding of the STARBOOKS system, guiding participants on its functionality and value as a digital library resource. Attendees were briefed on their roles and responsibilities as outlined in the previously signed Memorandum of Understanding, emphasizing their commitment to managing the kiosks effectively and maximizing their potential as learning hubs.

#OneDOST

DOST Philippines

DOST - Regional Operations

DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute

DOST-STARBOOKS

DOST XII - Sultan Kudarat Provincial Office

Provincial Government of Sultan Kudarat

#OneDOST4U #ScienceForThePeople #DOSTSTARBOOKS

Source: https://www.facebook.com/dostregion12/posts/pfbid0...