IN SAN ISIDRO, BOHOL

Remote public school gets

Satellite ‘net connectivity

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, (PIA)— Learners and teachers of remote Baunos Elementary School (BES) in San Isidro, Bohol earns an edge over other isolated and underserved schools as a pioneering private communications company offering connectivity solutions, opened up to them, a satellite based internet connectivity opening the floodgates of information and saturating the community with empowering information.

Eastern Communications, through its sustained community digital literacy program, handed over to BES principal Aileen Coringao a full satellite internet package promising a high-speed internet access, connectivity tools, and digital literacy enablement sessions to students and educators, through the company’s Project Maasahan.

Project Maaasahan is a multi-year initiative in partnership with unconnected.org and the Department of Education (DepEd), that aims to bring vital internet connectivity to 10 GIDA schools across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Through this initiative, Eastern will provide free internet access and digital literacy programs to students, teachers, and their communities, explains Eastern Communication’s Segment Marketing Manager Mico Bayocot, at the side lines of the turn-over ceremonies timed with the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry annual general membership assembly at the MetroCentre Hotel in Bohol.

Through the initiative, Eastern Communications provide free internet access and digital literacy programs ten target sites in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and has accomplished half, with Baunos to students, teachers, and their communities getting the satellite internet package.

Baunos is a remote barangay in San Isidro, Bohol, sitting in a largely forested area in the boundaries of Antequera and Balilihan, is nearly 10 kilometers from the town center and about the same distance from Antequera.

Accessible by narrow barangay road which cuts through forests, from the provincial road in Barangay Cansague Sur, most of Baunos is a dead spot, that its forests then were a favourite harbour for insurgents.

“This is definitely a huge help for the students, teachers and the community,” Coringao, her voice shaking in disbelief and gratitude said, in front of the top business owners of the BCCI.

Teaching in the distant and remote barangay across rugged and lonely road is already a challenge for my teachers, and getting access to learning and teaching aids from researching by books complicate the problem, now that we have this access, it will definitely be better for us, she added, while thanking BCCI and the Department of Education.

BES has been in the DepED Bohol Division shortlist for schools needing the assistance that Eastern Communications can give, and the endorsement from the BCCI sealed the deal for BES, shares BCCI President Stephen Lim.

“Our mission is to help close the digital divide by connecting the unconnected,” said Jed Estanislao, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer at Eastern Communications, in the company website.

“We believe in the power of connectivity to transform lives. By providing these schools with the right tools, we are not just giving them internet access; we are opening up a world of information and opportunity, and helping to secure a brighter future for our young learners,” he added.

For BES, they get a whole year subscription of the service and the rest, the school would have to pay for the subscription, according to Eastern Communications. (PIABohol)

SHORTENING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. In line with the government’s efforts to bring internet inclusivity to Filipinos, with the partnership with the private sector, BCCI and its members witness Eastern Communications hand over the Starlink satellite internet kit and laptop to BES principal Aileen Coringao, during the recent the recent chamber membership assembly at the MetroCentre. (PIABohol)