The transition to online learning has brought concerns rising from bringing the traditional classroom digitally, to issues on having an available internet connection. As Valenzuela City finds the balance on making both ends meet, it never doubts to bring in the best resources in the most available means.

Luckily for more than 8,000 students of the Pamantasan ng  Lungsod ng Valenzuela (PLV), Valenzuela City Polytechnic College (ValPoly) and junior to senior high school students of Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science (ValMaSci), online learning becomes more available and more convenient as they are welcomed with free data subscription for the entire academic year.

The free data subscription shall perfectly partner the use of Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) as the aforementioned local schools implement full online learning.

The use of Canvas LMS is also free-of-charge for students. It is also considered as the fastest growing LMS in the world which is being used by renowned institutions such as Harvard University, Ohio State University, and the like.

“We are excited because we will be able to maximize our Canvas LMS because we now have reliable internet connectivity. Our subscription to our LMS will be of no use if the students have no means to access the system,” Mayor REX Gatchalian shared during the ceremonial signing of agreement with PLDT Enterprise today, October 05.

More than 8,000 SMART 5G Ready SIM Cards with SMART GIGA Study Plan 299 and Microsoft 365 License will be distributed to all students in the next coming days. The local government will shoulder the monthly data subscription of all students under the said prepaid custom plan. This includes 34 gigabytes of data allocation, 4 gigabytes open access data, and 1 gigabyte per day for study applications.

“Running the city is a very serious matter -- it becomes more serious during the pandemic. So the communication must be very fast, very convenient and very reliable. This program is part of the overall plan of the city to keep the students educated… We partnered Canvas with a very reliable partner so all the necessary ingredients for the success of your [student’s] continued education, nandiyan na (it is now available). Maximize the investment that the city is giving you,” Mayor REX said.

To represent the student beneficiaries of the free data subscription, Ms. Sheriz Ann Umali, Student Council Executive Officer of PLV, gratefully shared that “Sobrang laking tulong po ng free SIM cards dahil po naka-anchor po talaga sa access sa internet yung means ng learning nowadays, (The free SIM Cards are of a really big help since learning nowadays is anchored on internet access). We are deeply grateful for all of your [City Government] efforts.”

“Hindi madali yung kinakaharap natin ngayon (What we are facing right now is not easy), pero (but) we'll try to make it a little better. We'll cope, we'll adapt, and we'll progress,” Ms. Umali added.