Showcasing its continued commitment to community engagement and extension, the University of Baguio‘s School of Information Technology (SIT) shared its expertise with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Region I through a series of digital skills enhancement sessions held from June to September 2026. Three (3) SIT faculty members were invited as resource speakers and subject matter experts for the series.
As government offices increasingly rely on digital tools for communication, documentation, and daily operations, the series was designed to equip jail personnel with practical, job-ready technology skills. Each session was delivered by an SIT faculty member (under the leadership of Dr. Ellen M. Halover) whose expertise matched the topic, allowing participants to learn directly from information technology practitioners.
Building Digital Competence in Public Service
Under the leadership of Regional Director JSSUPT Andrew W. Tauli, TLPE, BJMP Region I organized the initiative as part of the Jail Bureau’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its workforce’s management competencies. Designed to enhance performance and operational efficiency, the program featured seminars, interactive workshops, and practical training sessions. Personnel from diverse jail facilities throughout Region I participated in the program, delivered through both virtual and in-person formats.
The series opened on June 9, 2026, with a half-day online Digital Graphic Design Workshop, led by Ms. Erna-Kristi N. Martinez, which introduced participants to the fundamentals of graphic design and its core elements, including color, typography, and layout. She then oriented them to Canva’s tools and features and discussed practical design techniques and branding basics to help units present a consistent, professional image.
Participants then put these lessons into practice through a hands-on session, creating their own posters, infographics, and social media materials. The workshop concluded with output sharing and peer feedback, giving participants the chance to present their work and learn from one another before the wrap-up and evaluation.
Preparing Skills and a Security Mindset for Active Use
On September 23, 2026, participants gathered at Hotel Ariana in Bauang, La Union, for an immersive, face-to-face workshop on basic computer fundamentals, troubleshooting, and cybersecurity led by resource speaker Ms. Katherine Reyes. The session focused on two core objectives: building practical technical proficiency and instilling a security-conscious mindset for daily workplace tasks.
The morning segment covered hardware and software essentials and basic troubleshooting techniques. Through the interactive “Know Your Machine” activity, attendees gained familiarity with device components and functions. Next, teams collaborated in a “Troubleshooting Relay” to diagnose and resolve routine technical issues.
Alt Text: Representatives and members from UB’s Information and Technology Department along with BJMP Region I Personnel during the online training series for digital upskilling
The afternoon focused on cybersecurity, highlighting its critical role in protecting sensitive institutional data within the BJMP. Ms. Reyes outlined key cyber-hygiene practices and assessed participants’ vigilance through a “Spot the Scam” exercise to improve detection of phishing and other digital threats. The day ended with guidance on incident reporting procedures, enabling attendees to create personalized safe-computing checklists for their units.
The series wrapped up on September 29, 2026, with an online half-day session focused on digital records management with Google Drive, led by Engr. Meynard O. Soriano as the resource speaker. Centered on the motto “Organize it. Find it. Protect it. Share it wisely,” the session gave participants actionable strategies for effective, secure office records management.
Engr. Soriano began the training by helping attendees log in and navigate Google Drive with confidence. He demonstrated how to build structured folder hierarchies, categorize documents, and establish standardized file-naming practices. He also covered core file administration tasks, including uploading, renaming, moving, searching, backing up, and recovering digital files.
Moving into document security, he addressed responsible file sharing and the importance of assigning permissions aligned with individual role requirements. He underlined essential privacy and security practices to protect confidential data. To conclude the workshop, participants engaged in a comprehensive filing simulation, applying their newly acquired skills to a realistic records management exercise.
The partnership also contributed to UB’s advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs):
● SDG 4: Quality Education – in the promotion of lifelong learning and equipping working professionals with relevant digital and ICT skills
● SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – through enhancements in workplace productivity and efficiency through practical, job-relevant technology training
● SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – by helping build more effective, accountable, and secure public institutions through improved digital competence, cybersecurity awareness, and records management
● SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – fostering collaboration between the academe and a government agency in sharing knowledge and expertise
Through this engagement, the University of Baguio reaffirms that its role extends beyond the classroom. The SIT department continues to share its faculty’s expertise with partner institutions, helping strengthen public service in the region, one skill at a time.
