BUSINESS process management firm 1&1 Ionos Philippines donated 120 personal computers to a state college and two public schools in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu as part of the company’s efforts to support education amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Debra Sitoy, human resource head of 1&1 Ionos, said the plan to donate personal computers to the schools had been decided even before the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) hit the Philippines.
Donating learning tools is the company’s way promoting its advocacy for education, Sitoy said.
Sitoy said 1&1 Ionos hires fresh graduates.
She further said their company located in Cebu I.T. Park in Barangay Apas, Cebu City, continues to operate despite the health crisis and has not let any of its employees go.
“What’s more important and critical at this time is we stayed committed to the health and safety protocols. So, half of our employees are working from home while those who have poor to no internet connection are the ones working onsite,” she said.
She said the information technology-business process management industry can be considered as important in the Philippine economy because most of its companies continue to operate, helping keep the economy alive.
Sitoy and other 1&1 Ionos officials turned over 50 personal computers to the Cebu Technological University (CTU) main campus on Sept. 18, 2020, to Dr. Joseph Pepito, campus director.
Pepito thanked the company for the donation, saying the computer units are vital for the students’ laboratory use.
“We will use these for our classes in Bachelor of Science in Mechatronics, which is the newest program that we have and only CTU offers such a course in Visayas. It is all about robotics,” he said.
Pepito said 1&1 IONOS’ donated personal computers will become a huge part in the CTU students’ learning journey.
The campus director said the CTU’s student population has increased because the school is subsidized by the government.
The school also provided free internet connectivity kits to students to ensure they do not miss their online classes.
The other schools that received computers were the Pusok Elementary School in Lapu-Lapu City and the Tipolo National High School in Mandaue City. Each school received 35 computers. (JOB)