NEGROS ORIENTAL—The Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the country’s geothermal power leader in partnership with Taiwan-based multinational computer and electronic company ASUS, distributed laptops to 26 SIKAT scholars in Negros island to enable these students to cope and adjust with the current learning environment brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Norreen Bautista, EDC Corporate Social Responsibility Head for the Negros geothermal facility that the laptops were turned over to the scholars who reside in partner communities and barangays in the Northern and Southern Negros geothermal sites on October 26 to 31 this year.
Bautista went on that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how people live these days more so with the students, including EDC’s scholars from its SIKAT program must adjust and live with the current challenges of social distancing.
“The laptops will be their key tool in adapting to and surviving this change. Aside from the laptops, each SIKAT scholar also received a pocket Wi-Fi from EDC that will supplement their internet connectivity during synchronous classes and in doing school activities and requirements,” Bautista bared.
ASUS for its part, expressed its appreciation towards EDC for allowing them to become partners for achieving a regenerative future. In today’s new normal set-up for education, learning and sharing of knowledge can be accomplished anytime, anywhere, ASUS Philippines Country Head, George Su said.
“We, at ASUS Philippines, with the help of Energy Development Corporation (EDC) team are here to provide the students and even our hardworking teachers with total education solutions through our innovative, very efficient, and 100% education-ready products, particularly our laptops, both for learning and teaching," Su added.
SIKAT Batch 2018 scholar Jemarie Rosales from
Valencia, Negros Oriental, thanked EDC for its unwavering support to them
especially now that the learning environment has become more challenging due to
the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Rosales that with the present crisis, their lives are affected including their studies especially so that face-to-face class is still prohibited. Since they are now attending online classes which make it more difficult for them to learn with poor internet connection and lack of online equipment are some of the leading problems they are facing now.
“But EDC is always there for us. They continue showering us with blessings and opportunities. They are looking for ways to provide help to their scholars in this rocky situation,” Rosales said.
Bautista expressed her gratitude to ASUS on behalf of EDC for their support to provide a learning tool for the SIKAT scholars, for being its partner in EDC’s commitment to elevate the lives of its scholars through quality education even during this pandemic.
Jhayvan Quitoy, who’s currently enrolled at the UP Visayas shared her struggles especially in a distance-learning environment as she lives in the mountainous part of Barangay Liptong in Valencia, Negros Oriental.
“The first time, I had a Zoom meeting through my phone with our teacher for our course orientation, I really had a hard time catching up with what was discussed. The buttons in the phone are so tiny and my data connection was very unstable. And so, I ended up leaving the meeting and crying for the lost learning opportunity,” Quitoy said.
Quitoy added that she was very excited and thankful at the same time after knowing that EDC will be distributing laptops to all scholars. With this huge blessing from EDC and ASUS, it will pave the way for her to further her study and be an efficient student.
“I can now submit my assignments on time and never leave a Zoom meeting with a sad heart. Thank you so much, EDC and ASUS for this gift that will surely enable us to achieve our dreams. Daghan kaayong salamat! God bless you!” Quitoy stated.
EDC generates over 40 percent of the Philippines’ renewable energy output and serves about 10 percent of the country’s overall electricity demand with its installed capacity of 1,499MW.
Its 222.5MW Negros geothermal facility has been providing uninterrupted supply of clean, reliable power to Negros Island and to the rest of the Visayas region for over 37 years now and counting, Bautista said. (Photo: EDC/France Ariola)
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