Media Release
November 16, 2022
First Gen-owned Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the country’s leading renewable energy producer, has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and partnered with Australian-based non-profit organization LiteHaus International to provide 350 laptops to 20 elementary schools in Kidapawan City to help boost online learning.
During the MOA signing ceremony in Manila on Monday, Regina Victoria J. Pascual, EDC vice president and head of Corporate Support Functions, recognized the need for additional tools to complement the teachers’ conventional teaching methods and enhance the student’s learning experience, especially in these pandemic years.
“The current new normal brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed schools and students to embrace technology as a crucial part of education. The students can obtain high-quality information, develop their autonomy, engage in interactive and meaningful learning using multimedia support, and develop ICT skills,” Pascual said.
“Using technology in learning creates a positive impact on the schools’ overall achievements and helps break the barriers between the school and the society,” she added.
EDC Assistant Vice President and Corporate Relations and Communications Head Atty. Allan Barcena said in the same event that under its banner education program called SIKAT, the key priority is to provide quality education to underprivileged yet deserving students from partner communities in all EDC’s geothermal sites across the country. This will allow them to become successful individuals, help their families break out from the cycle of poverty, and contribute to nation-building.
“We thank our international partner Litehaus for this partnership and for being an enabler of a brighter future for the thousands of elementary students in Kidapawan City. These devices will surely help them in their educational endeavors,” Barcena added.
During the Deed of Donation (DOD) signing and ceremonial turnover of laptops held at the Division Training Center, Lanao Central Elementary School on Wednesday, LiteHaus Founder and CEO Jack Growden made a commitment to the Department of Education (DepEd) that they will help the schools in its digitization program.
“LiteHaus International does not belong to any of the nations. We believe 100% in the spirit of generosity. What made me partner with EDC is the amazing program they have, the SIKAT education program, for the students. The turnover of the laptops today is just the beginning of a stronger and longer partnership with EDC and DepEd,” Growden said.
EDC MAGP Corporate Relations Department Head Myrissa Tabao expressed her appreciation to LiteHaus for the devices donated to schools under the Department of Education – Kidapawan City Division.
“We are grateful to LiteHaus International for extending their mission of digitizing schools here in the Philippines,” Tabao asserted.
Dr. Meilrose Peralta, DepEd Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, expressed her gratitude to EDC and LiteHaus for choosing the Kidapawan City Division as the first beneficiary of LiteHaus in the Philippines.
“Today, our hearts are overflowing with gratefulness and happiness as we take part in this historic ceremonial distribution of laptops to the DepEd Schools Division Office of Kidapawan City,” Peralta shared.
After the morning activity, EDC and LiteHaus team went straight to four elementary schools to manage the actual distribution and installation of refurbished laptops. The team headed to Balabag Elementary School, Cayetano A Javier Memorial Elementary School, Ginatilan Elementary School, and Meohao Elementary School. The four remaining schools for the first batch will be visited on Thursday, November 17. Growden was assisted by LiteHaus Digital Inclusion Program Lead Rob Birnie in the actual setting up in the computer laboratories of each school.
EDC and LiteHaus allocated 15 laptops to each school. They aim to complete the distribution and installation of these units in January.
Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is First Gen Corporation’s 100% RE subsidiary with over 1,480MW total installed capacity that accounts for 20%of the country’s total installed RE capacity. Its 1,188MW geothermal portfolio comprises 62% of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity, and is the 3rd largest geothermal producer in the world.
