LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN — The provincial government of Pangasinan is holding its first ever Pangasinan IT Challenge for Youth With Disabilities on June 21 at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center I here.
Hosted by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and Persons With Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), the competition is open to youth with disabilities aged 13 to 24 years old, who are recently enrolled in either public or private schools.
“In line with Gov. Ramon Guico III’s vision of making Pangasinan a premier province of great opportunities, the PSWDO through its PDAO ventured into ICT competition to bridge the gap in the digital divide and enhance the information and communication technology (ICT) capabilities of young individuals with disabilities,” PSWDO Annabel Terrado Roque said.
According to Jennifer V. Garcia, head of PDAO, the event will encourage the youth to explore ICT tools and skills, fostering inclusivity for persons with disabilities.
The competition will be divided into three categories: eTools (Excel and PPT), eLifeMap, and eContents. Participants will showcase their proficiency in these areas, highlighting their technological skills and creativity.
Prizes at stake are: first place, P5,000; second place, P3,000; and third place, P1,500.
Garcia said winners in the provincial level will compete in the national competition in the last week of June in Metro Manila and will have a chance to represent the country in the Global IT Challenge to be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE in October 2023.
To prepare the participants for the challenge, an orientation of the contest package will be conducted on June 13 through an online platform. Subsequently, participants will undergo practice and training from June 14 to 20, to hone their skills and familiarizing themselves with the competition requirements.
Interested participants can register through
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1yRYRDPVr4lKVuBTN563NC_vsWF86BzVgWIKSCz03BixwUg/viewform?usp=sharing on or before June 10, 2023.
“We are advocating inclusivity for persons with disabilities, and this event will serve as a platform for them to engage with their peers, learn from experts, and gain valuable experiences that can contribute to their personal and professional growth,” Garcia said.
The PSWDO-PDAO has partnered with the National Council on Disability Affairs, DICT Pangasinan, Local Government Units, DepEd and the Local Youth Development Office to make this event possible.
(PSWDO-PDAO/PangasinanPIO)
