Bohol island schools get technology boost with Smart program

STUDENTS in the small island of Calituban, Bohol have faced a long list of learning challenges— from the 2013 earthquake that damaged school buildings, to super typhoon Yolanda with its accompanying devastation.

“We live in an island that is prone to typhoons. Most of our students, honestly, are left behind,” said John Pearlnel Amit, a kindergarten teacher in Calituban Elementary School.

He added that aside from facing weather disturbances that cause class suspensions, the school lacked facilities, equipment, and instructional materials that enhance student learning.

Amit is thus very happy that Calituban Elementary School was chosen as recipient of a School-in-a-Bag package developed by PLDT mobile unit Smart Communications.

The Smart School-in-a-Bag units were turned over by the PLDTSmart Foundation (PSF), following a generous donation from UBS Investments Philippines.

To date, close to 40 School-in-aBag units, each costing P100,000, have been distributed to public schools. Twenty of these were sponsored by individuals and organizations like UBS; the rest were donated by Smart. Eleven are set to be turned over in the coming months. Those who wish to bring digital learning to more remote schools may send an email to for more details.

Department of Education-Bohol schools division superintendent Wilfreda Bongalos (second row, left), PSF president Esther Santos (second from right), Smart Visayas-Mindanao public affairs head Maria Jane Paredes (right), and representatives from recipient schools.