Boxing icon Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao wlll shoulder the cost of operating 13 different TV channels for use by the Department of Education (Deped) this coming school year.
“Galing ako sa hirap kaya alam ko ang nararamdaman ng mga mag-aaral at mga magulang nila,’’ Pacquiao said. (I came from a poor family. I feel for the students and their parents.)
Pacquiao, who has made millions of US dollars from his boxing career, said he does not like poor students and those in far-flung areas who do not have the money to buy laptops and gadgets for on-line learning and be left out in their quest for education.
“Alam ko din na hindi pa 100% coverage yang internet natin sa Pilipinas, kaya kahit me pambili ka ng laptop o gadget, hindi ka pa din nakakaseguru na aabot sayo ang mga aralin buhat sa DepEd,’’ he added. (I know that our country still does not have a 100 percent internet coverage. Even if you can afford to buy laptops and gadgets, you cannot be sure if DepEd could deliver to you educational materials.)
Pacquiao revealed they are able to get the assistance of the telecommunication industry in the operation of 13 television channels for the DepEd at no cost to the government and students.
“Kung saan ako muntik nang magkulang, maaga kong pupunuan. Dahil napaka-halaga ng pagaaral para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan,’’ he stressed. (If I have some shortcomings, I will be able to fill it up. Education is very important for the future of our youth.)