PLDT, Smart bridge digital divide for indigenous communities
TECH-driven initiatives from digital services provider PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. are making more people appreciate Indigenous Peoples (IPs) as all-encompassing digital technology helps empower remote communities.
Amid call no learners should be left behind in the new normal, PLDT-Smart Foundation donated tablets, Smart LTE pocket Wi-Fis and Smart Load to an indigenous community of Aetas in Katutubo Village, Porac, Pampanga.
The School-in-a-Bag initiative under Smart’s LearnSmart program deploys portable digital classrooms designed to support distance learning, even in remote areas without electricity and internet connectivity. Specially designed for online learning, each water-resistant backpack carries 20 student tablets preloaded with educational content, instructor’s laptop, pocket WiFi, among others.
Furthermore, educators from School-in-a-Bag beneficiary communities are trained on the Central Visayan Institute Foundation-Dynamic Learning Program (CVIFDLP), a pandemic-resilient instructional strategy that supports home learning and works in various online and offline delivery modalities.
Developed by Ramon Magsaysay laureates and worldrenowned theoretical physicists Dr. Christopher Bernido and Dr. Ma. Victoria Carpio-Bernido, CVIF-DLP works in all primary and secondary academic levels as well as in alternative learning systems including special education students.
Overall, PLDT, Smart and various donors deployed 300 portable digital classrooms to Department of Education schools, which helped bridge the digital divide for more than 80,000 underserved students and over 2,000 teachers nationwide.
Harnessing technology
A mobile innovation developed by Smart with education stakeholders is now helping young members of a tribe in Davao and Bukidnon to learn more about their language and culture. The first app of its kind, the Matigsalug app features songs, dances and language of the tribe based in Marilog District in Davao City. Designed to teach young IPs basic literacy, the app also allows anyone to understand and appreciate Matigsalug culture.
Another LearnSmart IP app called Gnarè Blaan carries interactive alphabet and number exercises and educational games depicting the culture of the Blaan tribe of Southern Mindanao.
Developed in partnership with the local government of Sarangani, Gnarè Blaan is the 10th app in Smart’s roster of award-winning mother tongue-based literacy innovations, which includes Bahay Kubo (Filipino), Kaalam (Cebuano), Ta’allam and Tahderiyyah (Arabic), Kaaram (Waray), Katao (Inabaknon), Singsing (Kapampangan) and Sanut (Ilokano). All said apps are free on Google Play.
Sustaining tourism, livelihood
Aside from education initiatives, PLDT and Smart also implement programs that help spur economic growth in IP communities.
An innovation developed by Smart in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the KulToura app is a mobile travel guide to the Philippines that promotes culture and heritage, including those of IPs’.
To help provide equal livelihood opportunities for IP communities, PLDT will be conducting digital training for the Sinaka Eagle Bagtok Napunagan Kayupaton Association IP community in Arakan, North Cotabato. The PLDT-led webinar sessions will equip women in the community with digital knowledge and skills for day-to-day activities.
Participants include members of the Community Conservation Sew Mates Ent., backed by the Philippine Eagle Foundation. Trainings led by PLDT throughout the years have helped these IP women learn arts and craftsmanship, which resulted in the creation of the iconic Philippine Eagle plushies sold during PLDT’s selected corporate social responsibility events.
Aside from facilitating digital training, PLDT will be donating 12 refurbished computers to participating IP communities and their respective barangay (villages) for livelihood and education purposes.
Empowering all IP communities
As the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development highlights the need to support IP communities, PLDT and Smart are committed to help the Philippines attain the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals particularly in key areas such as quality education, stable jobs, economic growth, innovation, infrastructure, sustainable cities and communities.