PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. supported the Department of Education’s 2023 National Literacy Conference (NLC) recently 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.
The two-day conference was attended by over 400 participants nationwide, including representatives from educational institutions, local government units and agencies, and nongovernment 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,” Vice President Sara Duterte, who is also the DepEd secretary, said in her keynote speech.
“We at PLDT and Smart are one with the Department of Education in its goal of encouraging communities to take part in literacy development,” Stephanie Orlino, Stakeholder Management head at PLDT and Smart, said in a press release. “Our commitment is to continue doing our part in providing quality education, to ensure that no Filipino learner gets left behind.”
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,” Mendoza stressed.
The giant telco also provided fiber connectivity support to the conference to enable its livestream via DepEd Philippines’ official Facebook page.
The support highlights the company’s commitment to help the country achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal on inclusive quality education, and is 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, under the Digital Infrastructure Pillar. ||
