Mobile phone firm donates for mobile classroom project

Huawei Philippines donated $10,000 to the mobile classroom project of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Mindanao.

Huawei is the technical partner of Globe Telecom in its ongoing $700-million network modernization program.

“Huawei would like to give back to the community where it is doing business. We aim to contribute to nation building by participating in worthwhile initiatives involving education and the conservation of the environment,” said Huawei Philippines Director Albert Antig.

The donation is Huawei’s response to the DepEd Disaster Risk Resilience Management Office (DRRMO) call for private sector support to build mobile classrooms in areas affected by typhoon Pablo.

At least 800 classrooms in Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, and Agusan del Sur were damaged by the typhoon.  Construction and rehabilitation cost is estimated at P1 billion.

Mobile classrooms are open or enclosed tents that will be used by the students while their school buildings are being constructed or repaired.

Huawei has decided to work alongside Globe to demonstrate the company’s commitment to social and environmental development in the country.

Globe is DepED DRRMO partner in the program mainstreaming disaster risk resilience in public schools.

Globe sponsored the first regional disaster risk resilience workshop held last Sept. 20-22 for 16 division schools in the National Capital Region and will continue to be a partner in the series of workshops to be conducted in 2013.

For typhoon Pablo, Globe provided mobile and internet support to DepEd region 11 DRRMO monitoring center in Davao City.

“Globe is delighted to partner again with DepEd, specifically at this time when we are challenged again by a disaster.  When we received the call out from DRRMO for private sector to donate for the mobile classrooms, we thought it best to also mobilize our own partners like Huawei,” said Rob Nazal, corporate social responsibility head of Globe.

Meanwhile, DepEd Undersecretary Francisco Varela expressed his gratitude for the donation as he pointed out that it is very critical to restore education not only because it is needed by the children but because it helps restore normalcy in the community.