Each School-in-a-Bag package contains a laptop, 10 tablets with care bags, 10 64GB micro SD cards, pocket WiFi, flash drive, Smart load worth P500, and Oyayi learning materials and teacher’s guides.

The recipient schools are Wata-wanan IP School in Maitum, Falel Kesbung IP School in Kiamba, Datal Basak IP Integrated School in Maasim, Kibac Integrated School in Alabel, Niyas M. Mintal IP School and Calay IP School in Malapatan, and Lanao Kapanglao IP School in Glan.

Smart’s School-in-a-Bag packages are seen to be effectively used by the beneficiary learners because the identified recipient schools are also implementers of DepEd Sarangani’s innovation called LR on WHEeLS or Learning Resources on WiFi Hub for Expanded e-Learning in Sarangani, which brings online learning experience to remote areas.

Learners in the recipient schools are expected to have a richer learning experience by engaging with interactive content using the tablets provided by Smart.

The turnover ceremony was witnessed by the Provincial Tribal Council, headed by Datu Edmund Pangilan, who expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Smart Communications for their generosity and continued support.

IPEd Focal Person Melchor P. Maguan said that the recipient schools will also be the respondents of the research that will eventually lead to the development of digital resource materials for IP education.

The Provincial Tribal Council also granted DepEd and Smart Communication free, prior, and informed consent for the participation of the indigenous communities in Sarangani in this initiative.

Haydee Bernabe of Smart Communications also expressed her appreciation for the continued support of the IP leaders and Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) in Sarangani to the projects between Smart and the Department of Education.

Melchor P. Maguan