AURORA PH opens digital access for five remote Davao City schools 

John Paul Siapel

For five remote public schools located in the highlands of Davao City, geographic isolation is no longer a barrier for digitalization following the launch of a new modernization project.

Aboitiz Foundation, alongside City Savings Bank, Unionbank, Okada Foundation, and Department of Education (DepEd) Davao City division, officially initiated this transition through “AURORA PH,” a program delivering high-speed internet and electronic tools during a scheduled turnover ceremony, June 25.

The recipient institutions include Labo Elementary School, Mangani Elementary School, Labo National High School, Sumilop Elementary School, and Sualon RSPB Integrated School.

Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Superintendent Reynante A. Solitario, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Josie T. Bolofer, and Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Rebecca C. Sagot led the delivery of advanced packages containing high-speed Starlink satellite internet connectivity kits, digital instructional materials, and 55-inch television sets for each beneficiary campus.

‘Equipped to prepare learners’

Solitario emphasized that dependable connectivity directly assists classroom instruction by bridging the digital divide for underserved youth.

“With the access to digital resources, teachers are equipped to prepare learners with the skills and competencies needed in today’s evolving world,” Solitario said.

Aboitiz Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar stated that sustainable community development relies on providing equal academic opportunities.

“Our goal is to open doors of possibility for these students, transforming remote classrooms into hubs of global knowledge through technology,” Hontiveros-Malvar said.

DepEd data indicates that the integration of satellite technology allows educators to access digital lesson plans that were previously unavailable due to poor signal coverage.

School heads noted that teachers in these highland areas will no longer need to travel to urban centers to download curriculum updates.

Four decade legacy

Established in 1988, the Aboitiz Foundation operates as the corporate social responsibility arm of the Aboitiz Group to implement community programs nationwide, developing from early charitable activities started by the Aboitiz family to assist local institutions in the late 19th century.

Over nearly four decades, the non-profit entity transitioned from localized donations to long-term programs aligned with national development objectives, organizing its corporate programs under three primary pillars: education access, enterprise development, and climate action.

“Service and community development have been part of our operational framework since our formal establishment,” Hontiveros-Malvar explained.

The organization also manages the Aboitiz Future Leaders Scholarship Program to provide financial aid to college students, with corporate records showing over 66 million pesos allocated to support more than 1,300 scholars across the Philippines.

Hontiveros-Malvar further stated that the organization moved beyond temporary relief, creating sustainable and systematic changes to empower Filipino learners.

Improvements of the initiative

Over the past weeks, the foundation has expanded its digital modernization initiative to include a pipeline of 84 remote last-mile schools, which includes the recent installation of a hybrid solar power system and a satellite internet connection at a floating school in Agusan del Sur.

“The current target is to deliver sustainable power and internet connectivity to 300 last-mile schools by 2027,” Aboitiz Foundation Education Head Jowelle Ann Cruz said.

Following these efforts, the group successfully delivered flat-screen televisions to multiple remote classrooms in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, ensuring that campuses equipped with independent power sources can immediately utilize the digital modules.