On 08 July 2025, the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), through the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), welcomed officers from the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Laguna for a meeting held at the UPOU Audiovisual Room. The meeting served as a venue to discuss updates on the implementation of the Barangay Digital Transformation (Dx) Hub.
The Barangay Digital Transformation (Dx) Hub is a collaborative initiative under the FMDS Community Inclusivity, Digital Transformation and Acceleration Towards Sustainability (CIDAS) Program, in partnership with Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Laguna, Concentrix Philippines, and selected barangays in Laguna, that seeks to organize digitally-transformed model communities by establishing hubs where barangay leaders and residents are provided with access to different capacity-building programs of UP Open University (i.e., Massive Open Online Courses and certificate programs) and PESO’s Province of Laguna Employment and Information System (PLEIS), an online job-matching platform designed to efficiently connect job seekers and employers.
Present from UPOU-FMDS were Assistant Professor Edmerson Calungsod, Faculty-in-Charge for the digital transformation initiative; Ms. Vanessa Autor, Public Service support staff; and Mr. Clarenz Rendell Ocampo, support staff for Microcredentials. Ms. Alexil Cheska Fajardo from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA) was also present during the meeting.
The discussions focused on the progress of the project implementation, alignment of objectives with local community needs, and the upcoming roll-out of digital training modules and possible MOOCs offerings for barangay constituents. The initiative aims to support local government units (LGUs) in building digital capacities and bridging the digital divide through inclusive and accessible learning platforms.
At present, a total of 20 computer units have been distributed to four (4) barangays in Laguna, namely: Brgy. Maahas in Los Baños, Brgy. Sto. Domingo in Bay, Brgy. Cansuso in Cavinti, and Brgy. San Vicente in San Pedro. Additionally, a training workshop on basic Google Workspace and data management, attended by Brgy. Maahas officials and staff, was conducted last 30 April 2025. The same training is also set to be implemented in the other partner barangays.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the partnership for digital transformation and continuing support for community upskilling efforts.
This initiative also aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including Quality Education (SDG 4), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).
Written by Vanessa T. Autor • Edited by Noreen Dianne S. Alazada
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