THE PANGASINAN State University partnered with 22 local government units in the province to support students who do not have access to the internet and gadgets needed in online learning.

The joint endeavor of the PSU and the 22 LGUs dubbed ‘ICT Konek’  aims to provide learning spaces, internet connection and computer units to students.

“This is also in response to the advisory of the Commission of Higher Education for state universities and colleges to tie-up with local government units in bringing educational materials and information to the students by having support services,” PSU President Dexter Buted said.

The participating LGUs are Alaminos City, Alcala, Asingan, Bani, Basista, Bayambang, Binmaley, Burgos, Dagupan City, Dasol, Infanta, Mabini, Malasiqui, Mangatarem, San Carlos City, San Manuel, Sta. Maria, Tayug, Urbiztondo and Urdaneta City.

“We would like to say thank you to these LGUs who partnered with us, who believed that we need to invest more for the education of our people and who are in a way of helping us deliver the learning and training to our students,” Buted said.

If the partner LGUs cannot provide computer units, Buted said PSU will provide the equipment and the manpower needed in setting up the units.

Smart Communications will provide the portable WiFi units to be used at the ICT Konek Centers.

Buted said the university is in ‘good financial standing’ and has allocated P2 million to fund the procurement of computers and data allocation for the WiFi units.

“We would like to inform the public that the university has good financial standing. We are thankful that the financial operation and the operation of the university as a whole is good. We invested in quality learning which includes the improvement of work facilities, our teaching and non-teaching staff, improvement in linkages and network, and the whole operation of the university,” he said.

For the first semester, 25,479 students enrolled at the Pangasinan State University. Buted said around 30 percent of the students do not have internet connectivity.