Manila Government, Globe Business assist public schools with data plans for online learning

The city government of Manila will be providing public school students with free access to online learning platforms under Globe’s BatangMaynilaSurf Plans. The telco giant also gave 11,000 LTE pocket mobile WiFi devices to the city for its public school teachers, as they prepare for the blended learning programs to be set by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Schools will be implementing blended learning—a mix of face-to-face and online classes, so that students can pursue their education amidst COVID-19. Lessons can be delivered using various channels such as TV, radio, computer devices, and learning modules and packets both in print and digital form.

“We value education for Manileños, which is why the city government of Manila looks forward to gifting 110,000 tablet devices equipped with Globe SIM cards and 11,000 laptops paired with Globe pocket WiFis,” shared Manila Mayor ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso. “We hope that through this initiative and with Globe’s relentless service, more public school students and teachers can maximize digital tools to create conducive and safe learning environments.”

The pandemic has made it difficult for the education sector to make quality learning accessible. This is widely due to the lack of digital technologies and internet connections within Filipino households.

“The Manila government has been continuously supportive of Globe’s efforts in establishing a robust network in the Philippines. They recognize that ICT connectivity plays an important role in nation-building and is essential for Filipinos to participate in a digitally-connected world,” stated Peter Maquera, Senior Vice President for Globe Business. “Through Globe’s BatangMaynilaSurf Plans and LTE Mobile WiFi devices, we aim to provide students and teachers with access to the online educational resources they need.”

Globe Business’ BatangMaynilaSurf data plan is specifically engineered to help students focus on their school activities and gain a virtual space that keeps them safe from the health risks caused by COVID-19. The custom-built plan allows students to access school-related websites and applications only. The plan is also already pre-activated upon distribution, with Globe refreshing the data allocation monthly through its Load Up platform.

Aside from being a trusted provider of digital solutions, Globe continues to work with local government units to build cell sites across the country. These towers, which are responsible for amplifying communication signals, enable individuals and businesses to gain better connectivity. With the World Health Organization (WHO) deeming cell sites to be a non-health hazard, Globe hopes that more organizations, like the city government of Manila, will give their full support as the telco works to create first-world internet through ICT infrastructure growth, network upgrades, and deployment of cellular towers.