Rizal, Philippines — 4 June 2024 — EdgePoint Philippines has officially launched the first digital classroom under the company’s Connectivity for Communities (CFC) programme, a regional corporate responsibility initiative aimed at providing seamless internet connections and devices for students in underserved communities, at Southville 8B National High School in Montalban, Rizal.
The unveiling of the new CFC digital classroom was led by Philip Varilla, Assistant Secretary for Infostructure Management at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Philippines; Suresh Sidhu, Chief Executive Officer of EdgePoint Infrastructure; William Walters, Chief Executive Officer of EdgePoint Philippines; alongside Seung Eun “Vanesa” Lee-Calixto, Resource Development Manager at Habitat for Humanity Philippines; Mayet Hernandez, Captain, Barangay San Isidro; Doris DJ. Estalilla, School Divisions Superintendent and Maribel Bulalayao, School Principal.
In collaboration with Habitat Philippines, this digital classroom targets to serve around 1,800 students and 79 faculty staff by providing them with a dedicated space for learning, research, and personal development. It will be fully equipped with seamless and unlimited internet connection and will also provide students with various educational materials, e-books, interactive learning platforms, and multimedia content on their academic subjects and interests. The CFC program will also include capacity development training for school staff to ensure the effective management and sustainability of the hub.
William Walters, Chief Executive Officer of EdgePoint Philippines said, “As infrastructure providers, we know how transformative digital education is for young minds to succeed in the digital age. We believe that every student deserves access to connectivity and educational tools that will help them learn and thrive in the future. With the establishment of this digital classroom, EdgePoint aims to empower students and prepare them to thrive in a brighter future. Connectivity for Communities aligns with EdgePoint’s commitment to creating positive impact in the communities we serve, and we’re pleased to contribute to a more digitally inclusive Philippines.”
Philip Varilla, Assistant Secretary for Infostructure Management at the DICT Philippines commented, “As young students of today will be the leaders of tomorrow, we must provide the right environment and tools for them to access knowledge. Connectivity is a powerful tool that can support educational efforts by giving students fast access to many resources. We welcome the efforts EdgePoint and Habitat for Humanity have undertaken to bring connectivity and learning materials to students in Rizal. This initiative is a testament to how private companies can use their resources to create a better, more connected society.”
Seung Eun “Vanesa” Lee-Calixto, Resource Development Manager of Habitat for Humanity Philippines remarked, “Through projects and partnerships like this, Habitat Philippines brings forth our RISE Communities strategy. We build Resilient infrastructures to support Inclusive programs by using Sustainable and innovative methods that can Empower our young learners to become leaders of our society. I am excited for the students of Southville 8B to have this breakthrough facility and access technologies with advanced educational lessons. Indeed, when we combine our synergies, we can make a meaningful, game-changing partnership toward creating community impact.”
Maribel Bulalayao, Principal of Southville 8B National High School, shared, “In this age, connectivity and technology are essential to educating students and better equipping them for the world. The classroom provides access to seamless connectivity and educational materials that we previously did not have, enabling our students to access information, collaborate and share ideas, and improve themselves. We are confident that our students will fully benefit from EdgePoint and Habitat for Humanity’s efforts.”
EdgePoint’s Connectivity for Communities program has facilitated connectivity for six schools across Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, impacting more than 5,000 students. The program is targeted to benefit ten more schools in 2024.#
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ABOUT EDGEPOINT INFRASTRUCTURE
EdgePoint Infrastructure is an ASEAN based independent telecommunications infrastructure company that aspires towards Building a Connected, Digital ASEAN. Headquartered in Singapore with operations in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, through EdgePoint Towers Sdn Bhd, PT Centratama Telekomunikasi Indonesia, Tbk and EdgePoints Towers Inc. respectively, the company is focused on providing sharable and leading-edge telecom structures, small cells and in-building systems. EdgePoint aims to be an industry leader through scale and innovation, driving operational efficiencies through the adoption of analytics and digital technologies. For more information on EdgePoint, please visit https://edgepointinfra.com/.
ABOUT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PHILIPPINES
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort. The Christian housing organization has since become a leading global non-profit working in more than 70 countries. In the Philippines, since 1988, Habitat for Humanity has helped more than 150,000 families have a safe and decent home; built and empowered over 200 communities nationwide; supported 934,120 households to improve their homes through financial services. By donating, volunteering, or advocating for affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, donate, or volunteer, visit www.habitat.org.ph.
