Manila gov’t taps Globe to provide data plans for public school students

The city government of Manila has tapped Globe Telecom Inc. for its program to provide thousands of public school students in the nation’s capital with free data plans for online learning.

In a statement, Globe said the Manila government will be providing public school students with free access to online learning platforms through its BatangMaynilaSurf Plans.

The telco giant gave 11,000 LTE pocket mobile WiFi devices to the city for its public school teachers, as they prepare for the blended learning programs to be set by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Schools will be implementing blended learning—a mix of face-to-face and online classes, so that students can pursue their education amidst COVID-19.

Lessons can be delivered using various channels such as TV, radio, computer devices, and learning modules and packets both in print and digital form.

“We value education for Manileños, which is why the city government of Manila looks forward to gifting 110,000 tablet devices equipped with Globe SIM cards and 11,000 laptops paired with Globe pocket WiFis,” Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso said.

“We hope that through this initiative and with Globe’s relentless service, more public school students and teachers can maximize digital tools to create conducive and safe learning environments,” he said.

Peter Maquera, senior vice president for Globe Business, said that through  custom-built plans and LTE mobile WiFi devices, the company aims to provide students and teachers with access to the online educational resources they need.

The custom-built plan allows students to access school-related websites and applications only, Maquera said.

The plan is also already pre-activated upon distribution, with Globe refreshing the data allocation monthly through its load up platform, he said. —LDF, GMA News