ASTI, together with their partner DOST agency, the Science Education Insitute (SEI), recently held last Aprl 02, 2004the formal launching of their joint project entitled “Pilot Testing of a Client-Server Set-up as a Low-Cost, Low-Maintenance
Computing System for Philippine Schools”.

The launching ceremonies were held at the Itaas Elementary School in Muntinlupa, one of the project's two beneficiary schools. DOST Secretary Estrella Alabastro and Malacanang Press Secretary Hon. Ignacio Bunye were on hand to witness the ceremonies. ASTI was represented in the event by Engr. Denis Villorente, OIC, together with Engr. Peter Banzon, Chief of ASTI's Computer Software Division, and Ms. Pallas Athena Elacio, Project Manager. Also in attendance from the agency is the Bayanihan Linux Terminal Server Project Team headed by Ms. Joanna Gonzales with members Geraldine Lugod, Joseph Syjuco and Alvin Retamar.

The programme proper opened with the doxology sung by the School's choir followed by the singing of the National Anthem and the Muntinlupa March conducted by Mr. Ronald C. Arabit. This was followed by the welcoming remarks Itaas Elementary School Principal, Dr. Julieta A. De Torres. The highlights of the ceremony included a Project Presentation from SEI Director Dr. Ester Ogena, detailing project scope and objectives; a symbolic launch of the project by DOST Secretary Alabastro; signing of the MOA as participated in by representatives from SEI and DepEd and short messages from special guests.

The joint project aims to introduce the Linux Terminal Server set-up to identified public schools as part of SEI's PC Program donation. This is in response to the PC needs of public schools in light of calls for cost and resource maximization.The solution focused on running thin client computers in a GNU/Linux environment which uses the Linux platform for deploying diskless workstations that boot from a network server. The set-up for the school included 15 clients connected to a server, a printer and pre-installed Linux OS and Linux Educational Applications together with windows-based Science and Math Educational Softwares provided by SEI.