PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel Pangilinan marked his birthday through various activities that aim to help schools prepare for the opening of classes later this month.
Pangilinan led the turnover of the school-in-a-bag (SIAB) donation to North Bay Boulevard North Elementary School in Navotas, Metro Manila.
The SIAB donation forms part of the $50,000 grant from Huawei Technologies Philippines, Inc. to the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF).
“Education has long been one of main pillars of the corporate social responsibility programs of PLDT and Smart. As we navigate through the new normal, we continue to support the country’s educational system by empowering students and teachers nationwide through flexible learning modalities,” Pangilinan said.
North Bay Boulevard North Elementary School was personally chosen by Pangilinan to be the first SIAB recipient from the Huawei grant.
The school, located in one of the poorest informal settler communities in Metro Manila, has 60 teachers who have to handle 1,400 students.
Along with the SIAB donation, Pangilinan, through the PSF, also turned over 66 tablets that will be given to Grade 6 students in Navotas Market Three.
SIAB, which contains 20 tablets, one laptop, and a Smart Pocket Wifi, is one of PLDT and Smart's pioneering efforts to improve the digital tools and solutions for the education system in the country.
Meanwhile, Pangilinan also donated food supplies – 1,000 packs of rice and vegetables – to the Armed Forces of the Philippines for its soldiers and their families.
Through Tulong Kapatid, the CSR consortium of the MVP Group of Companies, 900 lunch meals were likewise provided to locally stranded individuals (LSIs) staying at the Philippine Army Gym in Taguig. Members of the Tulong Kapatid who were part of the feeding initiative include the PSF, One Meralco Foundation, Metro Pacific Investments Foundation, Makati Medical Center Foundation, Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc., Maynilad and Meralco MGen.