Five months after reviving his digital learning agenda in July, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso delivered on a key pledge: equipping public schools with Smart TVs and laptops under the city’s “One Smart TV = One Classroom” program for Kindergarten learners.
Joined by Vice Mayor Chi Atienza and SDO-Manila OIC-Superintendent Dr. Nerissa Lomeda, Domagoso led the turnover of 397 laptops and 133 Smart TVs to 72 public elementary schools at the San Andres Sports Complex.
During the distribution held at the San Andres Sports Complex, the mayor explained that the city discarded non-essential items in the procurement pipeline to prioritize classroom needs.
He noted that on July 9, the Manila City School Board approved the realignment of ₱143 million from the 2025 Special Education Fund to finance digital equipment instead of “unnecessary expenditures” such as non-essential repairs.
“Kinuha lahat ng unnecessary expenses to equip our teachers in our classroom.”
“That day, all the palamuti-palamuti na hindi naman mabubusugan ang mata ng sinumang makakakita, isinantabi ko, winalis. Kinuha lahat ng unnecessary expenses to equip our teachers in our classroom today,” Domagoso said.
He told teachers that the investments were designed to strengthen Manila’s reputation as an early adopter of digital learning.
“The program’s focus on Kindergarten learners also recognizes that literacy, comprehension, and digital familiarity must begin early.”
Domagoso added that the program’s focus on Kindergarten learners also recognizes that literacy, comprehension, and digital familiarity must begin early.
“I know how hard it is for you just to attend your class, just to attend to your students. And these are the things that we in government must address on how to give added value to our educational system,” he said.
Domagoso recalled that during his first term, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, Manila became the country’s No. 1 compliant LGU in shifting from face-to-face to online learning at the onset of the pandemic.
He noted that the national government once urged other LGUs to replicate Manila’s provision of laptops for teachers and tablets for students.
“Even (former Secretary Liling Briones) herself told everyone: kung anong ginawa na may laptop ang teacher sa Maynila at merong tablet ang estudyante, gawin sa buong bansa,” Domagoso said.
“We were once No. 1, we were once the model, the North Star. We did it before, we can do it again — because together we can make Manila great again,” he concluded.
