TACLOBAN CITY– PLDT, Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) scale up their partnership with the Borongan city government by bringing their shared value programs to the city, promoting inclusive quality education and food security among Boronganons.

PLDT and Smart recently donated 40 plant Smart kits to the Borongan City Agriculture Office and 25 learn Smart kits to the schools’ division of Borongan City.

“We are honored to assist LGU Borongan City in uplifting the lives of its people through our education and food security programs. Our commitment has always been to contribute to community development not only through our telco services but also through our shared value programs covering priority sectors of LGUs,” said Hazel Amoyan of the PLDT Enterprise business unit in the Visayas.

The #PlantSmart kit is one of PLDT and Smart’s “sustainable gifting” initiatives, seeking to encourage communities to grow their own food by starting a vegetable garden in their homes.

Packed in an environmentally friendly material, each kit contains easy-to-grow vegetable seeds, loam soil, and organic fertilizer.

“The #PlantSmart kits will be distributed to priority households and will be a big help in our efforts to address malnutrition in Borongan City. Rest assured that the seeds of generosity and compassion provided by your company will be sown and nurtured by our LGU and make our collaboration even more fruitful,” Macario Gabornes, city agriculturist, said.
Meanwhile, the LearnSmart kit is designed to provide connectivity support and additional educational materials to teachers and students, especially those from far-flung communities.

Each kit includes a SmartBro LTE Pocket WiFi and a flash drive containing learning aids such as storytelling videos and CVIF Dynamic Learning Program learning activity sheets.
“We want to extend our gratitude to our partners for their unwavering support for the programs of DepEd Borongan City toward arresting learning poverty. Despite the circumstances, let us continue to work together to ensure that learners receive quality basic education as we progress toward learning recovery,” said Josemilo Ruiz, officer-in-charge, assistant schools division superintendent.

These programs of PLDT and Smart underscore the group’s commitment to helping the Philippines achieve UNSDG No. 2 on zero hunger and UNSDG No. 4 on inclusive quality education.
(LIZBETH ANN A ABELLA)

CAMP VICENTE LUKBAN, Catbalogan City– Six units of the 8th Infantry Division received recognition during the founding anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines held at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo on December 21, 2023.

The units all received campaign streamer awards for their successful operations that led to the dismantling of the lairs of the New People’s Army (NPA).

No less than President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., who is also the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, handed the awards.

Recognized were the 43rd Infantry Battalion, 52nd Infantry Battalion, 19th Infantry Battalion, 20th Infantry Battalion, 803rd Infantry Brigade, and the 8ID Operational Control (OPCON) unit from the 2nd Infantry Division, the 74th Infantry Battalion.

The 43rd IB received the AFP Campaign Streamer Award for dismantling the communist terrorist group (CTG) -front committee 2 (FC2), sub-regional committee (SRC) Emporium, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC); the 52nd IB for dismantling the CTG – F3, SRC arctic, EVRPC; the 19th IB for dismantling the CTG – FC1, SRC Emporium, EVRPC; the 20th IB and 74th IB for dismantling the CTG – FC15, SRC Arctic, EVRPC; and the 803rd Infantry Brigade for dismantling the CTG – front committees 2, 3, 1, and 15, all under the EVRPC.

Major General Camilo Ligayo, the commanding general of the 8th ID, lauded the men and women of the Army units under the division for the recognition they have received during the AFP founding anniversary which is a testament to the hard work and commitment of every soldier.

“I congratulate the Stormtroopers for their dedication, hard work, and exemplary performance of their sworn duties. Rest assured that we will remain relentless and sustain our gains against the communist terrorist groups. Together, we will totally eradicate the problem of insurgency and welcome economic development throughout the region,” he said. (ROBERT DEJON)