CLARK FREEPORT – Converge ICT Solutions Inc. recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and the City Government of Malabalacat for the provision of free internet service and free learning tablets to Aeta students under the CDC – OB Pagsasarili Family Care Centers in Barangay Marcos Village and Sitio Calapi in Mabalacat City.
Converge ICT Founder and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Anthony Uy, Converge ICT Chairman Jose ‘Ping’ De Jesus, Mabalacat Mayor Crisostomo Garbo, CDC Chairman Edgardo Pamintuan, and CDC President and CEO Agnes Devanadera inked the said document during a simple ceremony held on Thursday at the Clark Visitors Center.
Following the signing ceremony, Converge distributed 100 e-learning tablets to the young learners in the Pagsasarili program.
In his speech, Pamintuan expressed elation on the continuous support of Converge to the students enrolled in the Pagsasarili program.
“Maraming salamat sa patuloy ninyong pagsuporta sa ating mga projects. Malaking bagay po itong ginagawa ng ating kaibigan at ako po ay natutuwa. Sana ay tuloy tuloy itong ating pagtulong sa asting mga mamamayan, ” Pamintuan said.
For her part, Devanadera underscored the importance of giving back to the community and how this will impact the lives of children within and around this Freeport.
“I’d like to give credit to the people who have been successful here and recognized that as they succeed, they have an obligation to look back and make sure that whatever gains they have, whether in talent or in wealth, they can share with others. Let us honor those who have looked back and shared their success. Hopefully, when these kids (Pagsasarili program students) grow up, they will be successful too and value the spirit of sharing, ” she said.
Meanwhile, Uy related the importance of providing internet connectivity to every community.
“Because of technology involvement, we can see that technology can also save a lot of lives through advance information, monitoring, and public advisory,’ he added.
For his part, De Jesus said that the aim of OB-Pagsasarili project is to encourage more young learners, to go to school, and elevate the level of education for children from communities surrounding the Freeport.
“We want to diminish the dropout rate of children in school. Only few finished grade school and only few started school. And, part of the causes on drop out rate is the lack of pre-school preparation and so I thought of starting this project here (in Clark) with the children of our Aeta brothers and sisters,’ he said.
Also present during the activity are CDC Vice President for Administration and Finance Mariza Mandocdoc, CDC Assistant Vice President for External Affairs Rommel Narciso, CDC Operations Administrator Ma. Zoraida Camello, and CDC Assistant Vice President for Business Enhancement Department Atty. Noelle Mina Meneses.
Aeta Pagsasarili Family Care Center was created through the partnership of CDC and OB Montessori. It is a project under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program of the state-owned firm. It was launched in July 2019 to provide an early childhood and adult learning program for Indigenous Peoples from nearby communities of this Freeport.