BDO Foundation partners with Huawei PH to champion education-related initiatives

BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank, and Huawei, a global leader of information and communications technology infrastructure and smart devices have united to co-fund the creation of financial literacy videos.

These videos will play a pivotal role in an ongoing financial education program tailored for the Philippine National Police, marking a significant step in their joint commitment to advancing educational initiatives.

The partners also agreed to finance the production of a second batch of curriculum-based videos on early numeracy, which will be used in the teaching of Mathematics and Science to Grade One pupils. Through the aforementioned projects, the partners aim to enhance the economic well-being of police personnel, help improve basic education and continue contributing to the government’s efforts to empower Filipino educators and learners. 

The memorandum of agreement was recently signed by (from left) BDO Foundation trustee Evelyn Salagubang, trustee Lucy Co Dy and president Mario Deriquito as well as Huawei Philippines public affairs and communications department director Hu Weihua and public affairs manager Liang Jiahao. 

The learning resources on personal finance and early numeracy are the latest initiatives to beundertaken by BDO Foundation and Huawei Philippines, which previously joined forces for programs that benefitted public school students and teachers.

BDO Foundation partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Huawei Philippines for the development of supplemental learning materials

As COVID-19 continues to affect the return of students and teachers to classrooms, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank has been finding ways to develop innovative learning materials that can be easily accessed online and shared offline.

 

BDO Foundation partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Huawei Philippines for the development of supplemental learning materials that integrate key concepts into the teaching of Science and Mathematics in schools across the country.

The partnership was officially launched in a virtual event witnessed by BDO Unibank and BDO Foundation chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson, BDO Foundation president Mario A. Deriquito, and BDO Foundation trustee Lucy Co Dy. Also in attendance were DepEd secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones, DepEd undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio, DepEd undersecretary Tonisito Umali and Huawei Philippines vice president Daniel Guo.

 

The launch was highlighted by the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the program dubbed the Search for the Best Supplemental Learning Materials in the Teaching of Defined Key Concepts in Science and Mathematics.

 

The nationwide competition will invite participants composed of public elementary and high school teachers to develop learning modules that integrate financial literacy into the teaching of Science and Math. The most outstanding entries will receive recognition and will be uploaded on the DepEd online learning portal, where they can be readily downloaded by teachers and students all over the country.

 

According to DepEd secretary Briones, “This is very significant for us. We cannot take for granted the importance of Math and Science in basic education. Our educators and learners are fortunate because new materials will be launched to make Math and Science interesting, exciting and full of discoveries and challenges. I would like to thank BDO Foundation and Huawei Philippines for supporting this project.”

 

The initiative is in line with the shared advocacy of the foundation, DepEd and Huawei—touted as the global leader in information and communications technology infrastructure and smart devices—to promote financial inclusion among educators and learners. The contest supports the partners’ goal to institutionalize financial education in DepEd’s K to 12 curriculum.

BDO Foundation partners with Go Negosyo for the implementation of pooled RT-PCR testing in Mandaluyong

As part of concerted efforts to contain COVID-19, BDO Foundation is partnering with Go Negosyo, the Philippine Children's Medical Center and the local government of Mandaluyong for the implementation of pooled RT-PCR testing in the city. 

 

The event  highlighted messages of support from the BDO Foundation leadership, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, Mandaluyong City mayor Menchie Abalos, Philippine Children's Medical Center executive director Dr. Julius Lecciones, and Iloilo 1st District representative Dr. Janette Garin, who serves as project consultant. 

BDO Foundation previously launched the initiative in Makati City and Cebu City for the testing of an estimated 8,000 public market vendors and PUV drivers. Testing in Makati has been completed, and a report is being prepared. Training in Cebu has begun, and actual pooled testing will be performed soon. 

 

Considered a game changer in efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus, pooled testing combines swab samples from individuals and examines them together using a single reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR test kit. Pools of five, 10 or 20 persons are tested depending on the prevalence of COVID-19 in an area. The method is expected to boost capacities, expedite tests and significantly reduce costs.

BDO Remit assists in distribution of hygiene kits to repatriated OFWs

PRIORITIZING HEALTH. Repatriated overseas Filipinos at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) receive hygiene kits before they go back home to their respective provinces.

In coordination with BDO Foundation, BDO Remit turned over hundreds of bags of hygiene kits to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 and the PITX, which were then distributed to overseas Filipinos who were sent back here due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

The repatriated overseas Filipinos, who have already tested negative in the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and completed their required quarantine period, were then transported back to their home provinces thru the assistance of OWWA.

BDO Foundation targets 100 rehabilitated health centers in 2020

Rural health units all over the Philippines have become increasingly important now that hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases. The support of health centers and their medical frontliners has been instrumental in helping local government units conduct tests and provide patient care. To help health workers in the fight to contain COVID-19, BDO Foundation has sustained its efforts to rehabilitate rural health units across the country.

Slowly but surely, the foundation is inching closer to a major milestone. In a matter of months, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank is set to rehabilitate its 100th rural health unit as part of efforts to help improve the healthcare delivery system in the Philippines. The initiative--which contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal no. 3 to ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being of people of all ages--is critical as the country comes to grips with the pandemic.

Since the rehabilitation program's inception in 2012, BDO Foundation has been renovating rural health units particularly in economically disadvantaged and disaster-affected communities. To date, 89 rural health units have been successfully rehabilitated and turned over. The undertaking was made possible with the support of BDO and BDO Network Bank branches, whose officers recommend health centers that need support.

Most recently, the foundation completed the rehabilitation of two health centers: Magallanes Rural Health Unit in Agusan del Norte and Calatrava Rural Health Unit and Birthing Facility in Negros Occidental. Improvements included their layout and interior design, lobby and waiting areas, offices, clinics, consultation rooms, treatment rooms, facilities and spaces for health workers and patients. Play areas for children complete with books and toys as well as waiting lounges for the comfortable use of the elderly were also constructed.

With these projects completed, doctors, nurses and midwives are now better equipped to provide primary healthcare services more effectively to their constituents. The corporate citizenship initiative is expected to help improve the health and well-being of more than 104,000 people from the 48 barangays of Magallanes and Calatrava.

The newly renovated Magallanes Rural Health Unit and Calatrava Rural Health Unit were turned over to local government officials by BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito, BDO Foundation program director Rose Espinosa, BDO Negros Occidental-San Carlos branch head Karen Maypa and BDO Butuan-J.C. Aquino Avenue branch head Janice Arapan. The facilities were graciously accepted by local health officials.

"Our patients benefit from the new areas constructed in the rural health unit--the senior citizens' area, kids' area, pharmacy, breastfeeding station and midwives' office, among many others," said Calatrava municipal health officer Dr. Karl Bonifacio. "Also, the expanded floor area of the laboratory can now qualify for Department of Health accreditation. On behalf of the people of Calatrava, I would like to thank BDO Foundation. Your support helps us improve the quality of our services especially for the poor and vulnerable members of our community."

BDO Foundation supports gov’t programs on COVID-19

In the fight to contain COVID-19 and its effects, collaboration between the private sector and the national government is crucial. This is why BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank, supported RapidPass and ReliefAgad, two government programs designed to help frontliners and Filipinos severely affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“The RapidPass System and ReliefAgad Program are ways to make movement and transactions more efficient in communities under enhanced community quarantine and general community quarantine,” explained Teresita Sy-Coson, chairperson of BDO. “Because these initiatives will benefit the communities, they are in line with the objectives of BDO Foundation.”

In support of RapidPass, the foundation donated 300 smartphones with prepaid loads and 550 power banks to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The items were turned over by BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito to DOST National Capital Region regional director Jose Patalinjug III.

The donation helps the implementation of the RapidPass System, enabling the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to safely and efficiently scan QR codes at checkpoints and facilitate the quick passage of vehicles of more than 500,000 authorized frontliners and critical service personnel. RapidPass minimizes vehicle congestion at 180 control points and speeds up the delivery of essential goods during the quarantine. The system prevents COVID-19 transmissions and ultimately helps stimulate economic activity.

“The system allows frontline personnel to apply for a digital pass,” explained Winston Damarillo, chief executive of Developers Connect Philippines, the non-profit organization behind both RapidPass and ReliefAgad. “Holders of the pass may go through a special lane without the need for additional documents. Checkpoint officers verify passes via encrypted high-speed scanners provided by BDO Foundation. This saves time at checkpoints.”

BDO Foundation also supported ReliefAgad, a web application that automates and accelerates the distribution of financial assistance to beneficiaries of the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP). Managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the digital app enables the efficient collection of beneficiary information.

“BDO Foundation provided support to facilitate one-time passwords to users of ReliefAgad. Through its assistance, the foundation ensures that SAP beneficiaries receive their subsidies in a timely and secure manner,” Damarillo shared.

With the ReliefAgad Program in place, millions of Filipinos—underserved individuals who lost their incomes due to the pandemic—are expected to receive cash aid safely as they avoid long lines in crowded public spaces and exposure to COVID-19. Beneficiaries also have options to obtain financial assistance through electronic payment systems or directly from banks.