Globe supports Facebook's internet-for-all advocacy

CEBU, Philippines - As part of its collaboration with Facebook and in support of the social networking site's internet-for-all advocacy, leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom turned over P100,000 to Bilar National High School to help rebuild the school which was damaged by the recent earthquake and to ensure that the students would have continuous access to technology and internet services.

"Similar to the vision of Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg to bring the entire world online, Globe also has an advocacy to make Internet access a reality to more and more Filipinos especially those in the rural areas.  For over a decade now, we have been providing internet connection to public elementary and high schools across the country to give the students an opportunity to keep up with what is happening in the rest of the world," said Fernando Esguerra, OIC, Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.

Esguerra said Globe has chosen BNHS to be the recipient of the financial assistance since it houses the Global Filipino School, an ICT center of excellence which Globe turned over to the Department of Education last year.  It consists of an ICT laboratory with 24 specialized desktop computers and laptops connected to the internet.

Aside from its 30 teachers and about 750 students, BNHS also opens the facilities to schools from around the municipality and district which would like to receive trainings on ICT integration.

"In just a year, we have improved our student and teacher engagements in the classroom, increased our national achievement scores, and have built a reputation as a center for technology and training.  The additional support from Globe would go a long way in rebuilding the school back to form.  It would also help in improving the quality of service which we have committed to provide not only to our students but to as many students and teachers in Bohol that we can reach," said Maria Lileth Calacat, BNHS Principal.

While the school sustained significant damage within its compound due to the magnitude 7.2 earthquake, its ICT equipment remained intact.

Globe and Facebook forged a partnership recently to bring internet access to more people nationwide by providing its about 36 million subscribers free access to the highly-popular social networking site on the mobile phone until January 2014.

With the free access, all Globe Prepaid, Postpaid, and TM subscribers using feature phones and smartphones can easily post, like, comment, chat, add friends, upload photos, share posts, and more on their Facebook account without the need for Wi-Fi. (FREEMAN)