Tacurongnons plot the metropolitan with “Let’s Map Tacurong City!”

           (May 25, 2012) With approximately 50 participants who attended the Google Mapping seminar/workshop called “Let’s Map Tacurong City!”, the event pushed through last May 20, 2012 at the Notre Dame of Tacurong College Audio Visual Room, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

            The said number exceeded the expectations of the organizer of the event, Dr. Remo Aguilar. According to Dr. Aguilar, there were more than 30 people who registered online, but the overwhelming number of walk-ins increased the total number of participants.

            During the opening program, Hon. Rodrigo Jamorabon expressed his utmost gratitude for Dr. Remo and his colleagues for conducting events such as “Let’s Map Tacurong City!” that will greatly help the government as well as the Tacurongnons.

            “Let’s Map Tacurong City!” is a product based on the Google Summit that took place in General Santos City. “The idea started to crop up after we saw that Tacurong doesn’t have that much laid beautiful map (in Google). It has a low resolution satellite image, yet that is being seen in Tacurong City’s map. So we thought that maybe it’s time that we start trying to map Tacurong and try to hurdle the obstacle of its low satellite image,” Dr. Aguilar said.

            Most of the participants were students from the different colleges of Tacurong City. Others came from the Joint Task Force Talakudong, the PNP, the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, the business chamber of the city, and owners of business establishments.

            Different lectures included the importance of mapping up Tacurong City, the basics before mapping in Google Map Maker, and working the software through a step by step tutorial. Participants were taught how to add new places, landmarks, streets, establishments and other structures in the city. Also, editing, reviewing, and deleting features were shared by the mentors from the SOCKSARGEN Bloggers.

            A lecture on tracking trails using GPS enabled android phones were mentored by a representative of the City Planning and Development Office, a colleague of Dr. Aguilar in the Google Summit. A petition was also filed to Google during the seminar/workshop for a better resolution of Tacurong City in Google Maps.

            This event was organized by Tacurong Online and Google, together with the SOCKSARGEN Bloggers, LGU Tacurong, Department of Tourism, Notre Dame of Tacurong College and supported by FreBros Technology, Arkowa Arts, Palm Bistro and Little Einstein School. (Ariesha Faith Martinez Dimaano)