Cagayan de Oro's scholar-leaders benefit from PLDT & Smart, advancing online learning

PLDT’s wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continues to support Cagayan de Oro’s scholars through the City Scholarships Office (CSO). Smart recently turned over connectivity devices to more than 300 scholars to help them continue their online learning and leverage technology for leadership building.

City Mayor Rolando 'Klarex' Uy said, “We are very grateful that Smart continues to look out for the needs of our scholars, knowing the importance of technology nowadays. Thank you for giving value to our scholars who will benefit from these free devices.”

Dubbed Iskolar sa Dakbayan (ISDA), the student beneficiaries are funded by the city government’s premier scholarship program for tertiary education. It aims to empower young Kagay-anons to finish their studies and be catalysts for change in their communities.

Annie Rose Achas, an ISDA leader in far-flung barangay Mambuaya, believes that connectivity is important not only for online learning but also for their community programs. “We conduct reading tutorials for struggling high school learners and with the internet service from Smart, we have easier access to credible references and materials for our advocacy,” she said.

 

“Our partnership with Smart has helped us reach out to our scholar-leaders through these devices. Partnerships and collaboration have now been made easier among our volunteers and partners. We thank Smart for building dreams with us,” said Richel Petalcurin Dahay, Head of CSO.

 

This effort is part of PLDT and Smart’s #NoLearnerLeftBehind advocacy, which underscores the PLDT Group’s commitment to helping the country attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG No. 4 on Inclusive Quality Education.