PLDT, Smart boost DepEd’s 2023 National Literacy Conference

PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) supported the Department of Education’s (DepEd) 2023 National Literacy Conference (NLC) held at the DepEd Ecotech Center in Cebu City.

With the theme “Building a Culture of Literacy: The Power of Communities as Catalysts of Literacy Development”, this year’s NLC aims to strengthen multicultural and inclusive education, and increase stakeholder involvement in community-based literacy development.

“We at PLDT and Smart are one with the Department of Education in its goal of encouraging communities to take part in literacy development. Our commitment is to continue doing our part in providing quality education, to ensure that no Filipino learner gets left behind,” said Stephanie Orlino, Stakeholder Management Head at PLDT and Smart.

The two-day conference was attended by over 400 participants nationwide, including represen- tatives from educational institutions, local government units and agencies, and non-government organizations that are implementing community-based literacy programs.

“Our goal is to promote functional literacy and ensure that every Filipino possesses the skills and knowledge in real life, equipping individuals with the ability to make informed decisions, communicate effectively, and actively participate in the workforce and society,” said Hon. Vice President of the Philippines and DepEd Secretary Sara Z. Duterte in her keynote speech.

To raise awareness on digital literacy, the conference featured PLDT and Smart Digital Communications Senior Manager Elijah Mendoza who gave a talk on cyber security and equipped participants with tips on how to avoid being victimized by various types of phishing and other criminal activities online.

“In the age of social media, all of us are potential victims online, but at the same time we are also potential threats. That is why it is important to be digitally literate and knowledgeable about cyber security today,” said Mendoza.

PLDT and Smart also provided fiber connectivity support to the conference to enable its livestream via DepEd Philippines’ official Facebook page.

This support of PLDT and Smart highlights their commit- ment to helping the country achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) No. 4 on Inclusive Quality Education. This is also aligned with the Group’s support for the Government’s overall digitalization thrust as one of the founding members of the government-mandated Presidential Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) under the Digital Infrastructure Pillar.s.|BNN

Shell at partners,

sa mga kasunduan sa pagpapalawig ng mga ilang CSR projects

BATANGAS City -- PINANGUNAHAN ni Mayor Beverley Rose A. Dimacuha ang paglagda sa Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) hinggil sa iba’t ibang proyektong ipatutupad ng Shell Pilipinas Corporation (SPC) at Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc (PSFI) sa Batangas City na lubos na pakikinabangan ng mga mamamayan ng lungsod, November 9.

Isa na rito ang Batangas City Eco Park and Wildlife Rescue Center kung saan popondohan ng PSFI ang pagtatayo ng Livelihood Center and Souvenir Shop sa dating dumpsite na matatagpuan sa barangay Tingga Labac.

Layunin ng naturang proyekto na maishowcase ang iba’t ibang produkto ng lungsod sa pamamagitan ng Shell LiveWIRE program upang mahikayat ang maraming turista na bumisita dito.

Ang kasunduan ay nilagdaan sa pagitan ng pamahalaang lungsod na kinatawan ni Mayor Dimacuha at ni PSFI Executive Director Sebastian Quinones Jr. Nagsilbing witness sina SPC-VP for Corporate Relations Serge Bernal at Vice Mayor Alyssa Cruz.

Nakatakdang simulan ang proyekto sa first quarter ng susunod na taon.

Samantala, upang patuloy na umagapay sa mga kabataang Filipino na matamo ang kinakailangang kasanayan at kaalaman tungo sa pagiging produktibong mamamayan, ipatutupad ng PSFI ang STEP o ang Science and Technology Education Program para sa mga 3rd year under graduate

ABAC Philippines drives climate action with innovative climate risk scenarios project

CALIFORNIA – IN a move aimed at addressing the pressing challenges of climate change, Sabin Aboitiz, President and CEO of the Aboitiz Group, ABAC Philippines member and ABAC Sustainable Growth Working Group (SGWG) Vice Chair, reports the progress on the Climate Risk Scenarios project. The progress report was presented during the APEC Business Advisory Council’s fourth meeting held in San Francisco, California, to translate climate awareness into actionable strategies.

management are integral aspects of the initiative.

PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Lumagda sa isang Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) sa pagitan ng pamahalaang lungsod ng Batangas na kinatawan nina Mayor Beverly Rose A. Dimacuha at Vice Mayor Alyssa Cruz na kumatawan kay City Environment and Natural Resources Officer (City ENRO) Oliver Gonzales at Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. na kinatawan nina PSFI Executive Director Sebastian Quiñones, Jr. at Shell Pilipinas Corporation VP for Corporate Communications Serge Bernal. Nakapaloob sa MOA ang pagtutuwang para sa Batangas Garbo Ecopark, STEP Scholarship at Master of Diasaster Program.| BALIKAS Photos by Jayson D. Aguilon & Finance Andrew Deguito ng CLB at Dr Jennifer Manalo mula sa BSU-TNEU.

students sa STEM related courses sa Batangas State University –TNEU at Colegio ng Lungsod ng Batangas (CLB). Nasa 35 mag-aaral mula sa BSU-TNEU at 15 mula sa CLB na nakatira sa TALIM (Tabangao, Ambulong, Libjo, San Isidro, Malitam) barangays ang pagkakalooban ng scholarship grant hanggang matapos nila ang kanilang pag-aaral sa loob ng dalawang taon.

Ang MOA ay nilagdaan nina Mayor Dimacuha, Quinones at nina VP for Admin

Para naman sa mga kabataan ng lungsod, pangungunahan ng Shell Pilipinas at Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) katuwang ang City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) at Dep Ed Batangas City ang implementasyon ng Master of Disaster (MOD).

Ang MOD ay isang original at innovative board game na ginawa ng ASSIST upang maituro sa mga kabataan ang kahalagahan ng paghahanda at aktibong pagtugon sa mga karaniwang sakuna sa Pilipinas. Hangad din nito na maipabatid sa mga mag-aaral ang mas malalim na kaalaman tungkol sa mga disasters at ang importansya ng pagtutulungan sa oras ng kalamidad.

Sa pamamagitan ng paglalaro ng MOD, mapapatatag ang kamalayan ng mga kabataan sa konsepto ng disaster risk reduction management).

Sa unang phase ng pag-

The Climate Risk Scenarios project is designed to bridge the gap between climate awareness and proactive decision-making. The initiative comprises four crucial components, each addressing a key aspect of effective climate risk management: data accessibility, methodologies, policies, and capacity building.

One of the pivotal features of the project is the establishment of an online platform to facilitate seamless access to climate data. A standardized playbook was also proposed to provide guidance, while support for policy enhancement and a commitment to developing capabilities for climate risk papatupad nito, 10 MOD ang ipagkakaloob sa 15 paaralan habang 15 guro ang sasailalim sa pagsasanay hinggil dito.

Target ng proyekto na maturuan ang 225 guro at community leaders at maipabatid ang MOD sa may 8100 kabataan sa lungsod.| - PIO Batangas City

In the initial phase of the project, Aboitiz highlighted the valuable insights gained from research and input of nine pilot economies. Similar and unique climate risks were identified, aiding in the prioritization of data on the platform. The assessments encompassed various aspects such as data and expertise, methodologies and standards, policies and mandates, and current practices in each economy, revealing gaps and strategies for improvement.

Aboitiz shared notable developments from the pilot economies, citing the National Autonomous University of Mexico’s use of climate data and socioeconomic factors to calculate climate change impacts. Thailand’s utilization of a climate analytics website for risk information and Canada’s rapid advancements in risk assessment capabilities were also highlighted. Moreover, both the Mexican and Philippine central banks were recognized for incorporating climate stress testing into their policy requirements.

The networks within ABAC members emerge as a pivotal force in fostering collaboration among data providers, users, and regulators. Stakeholders from diverse economies, including ABAC members in Australia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand, actively engage in the exchange of perspectives, emphasizing the indispensable role of collaboration in constructing climate resilience.|- BNN

NOVEMBER 15 - 21, 2023