Championing inclusivity in Education: One Meralco Foundation forges brighter future for Filipino learners
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Education is a fundamental human right that guarantees the youth a bright future. However, many Filipinos today are still deprived of this opportunity, having no access to quality learning due to financial limitations. For students living in off-grid and remote areas, this struggle is even doubled, with inadequate power supply constantly threatening their learning environment.
In partnership with various organizations including the Department of Education (DepEd), local government units (LGUs), and the private sector, One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the corporate social responsibility arm of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), aims to boost the Philippine education system through providing efficient solutions to different academic challenges faced by the country.
This advocacy is rooted in the vision to foster partnerships for community development, harness capability of beneficiaries, and uplift the lives of Filipino families.
School electrification program
Majority of the schools from secluded areas often struggle with adapting to modernity. This limits not only students, but also teachers to maximize various teaching materials, such as laptops for virtual classes or televisions for academic presentations, sticking with outdated learning methods.
Through its School Electrification Program, OMF promotes academic ease by providing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that supply power to school beneficiaries. This enables everyone to tap into several digital resources and use computer-based lessons for interactive learning.
Similarly, teachers are also no longer required to travel to electric-powered zones just to print activity sheets, increasing their productivity. Meralco Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer and One Meralco Foundation President Jeffrey Tarayao said, “An energized school improves teaching conditions using multimedia teaching aids and empowers students to widen their knowledge and enrich their learning using technology.”
In 2023, 10 public schools benefited from the said project, including Kboyong Elementary School in T’boli, South Cotabato, which has 134 students of tribal descent. These learners endure a 6-hour travel via a motorcycle ride and a long walk just to go to school.
Together with Lenovo Philippines, OMF supports the learning community with laptops to allow students to watch educational videos and connect to the internet for research purposes. Since 2011, OMF has helped 300 public schools nationwide, over 91, 000 Filipino students, and 3, 000 teachers all under its School Electrification Program.
Balik Eskwela program
In preparation for the school opening, the Balik Eskwela Program allows OMF and its partner organizations to also extend their academic assistance to thousands of public-school students.
With the Meralco Employees Fund for Charity, Inc. (MEFCI), Meralco employees, Meralco business centers, as well as Meralco subsidiaries donate bags and other school supplies to student beneficiaries, ensuring they are well-equipped to learn in school.
In the past years, OMF has implemented several projects under the Balik Eskwela Program. This includes “Laging Handa” disaster preparedness kits for students, “Teacher Frontline” backpacks for teachers during the height of COVID-19 pandemic, and “Power Pack Kits” to provide students with lunch meal kits.
As of 2023, more than 3, 400 kindergarten learners received the back-to-school materials, each including a backpack, a set of school supplies, and a hygiene kit.
Since 2014, OMF’s Balik Eskwela Program has always been a reliable partner of the Philippine education sector in transforming 44, 000 students’ learning experience.
Scholarships for youth and women
Aside from the two academic initiatives, OMF is also a firm advocate of inclusivity and diversity in the workplace.
Through the “MpowHER” scholarship program, the energy-provider uplifts women in a male-dominated area, like electrical engineering, providing students with financial support from partner schools. These include Batangas State University, the University of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology.
In partnership with Don Bosco College Canlubang in Laguna, OMF also grants scholarships to aspiring female electrical technicians, offering them a quality technical vocational course on Electrical Installation and Maintenance and Mechatronics Servicing, a National Certificate II (NCII) Program.
Since 2022, OMF has already helped 67 women scholars, some of which are now employees of Meralco.
Under this program, partners from the local government unit (LGU) of Pasig and Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health also supported deserving students from the district who aspire to work in the medical sector. These scholars will be assigned to different public hospitals and health centers in Pasig after completing their degree.
Additionally, OMF has allocated an educational grant fund for Filipino workers in Hong Kong, enabling them to study through online learning. This initiative is supported by other non-profit organizations under the MVP Group and Full Phils Association Inc.
For years, OMF remains a constant driving force for change in education, improving Filipinos’ lives and skills through quality learning experiences. It helps the youth to put in stone future successes through the implementation of different initiatives, fostering strong partnership with government, schools, universities, and Meralco employees.
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