China donates 1,000 Lenovo tablets for Davao City schoolchildren
DAVAO CITY – The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Philippines donated 1,000 Lenovo tablets to Davao City in support of the “Student Siblings Tablet Sharing Project” of the city government for the schoolchildren who are affected by the pandemic.
In an information released by the embassy, Ambassador Huang Xilian handed over the gadgets to Mayor Sara Duterte with Davao City Investment Promotions Center (DCIPC) chief April Marie Dayap via an online ceremony last March 31.
The diplomat said the donation was intended to support the implementation of the blended distance learning modality of the city, mitigate disruptions in education, and help students get better access to distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic which “affected the traditional teaching methods.”
He said the embassy vowed continued support for the endeavors of the city government in education through scholarships and other material assistance and to promote its economic recovery and social development in the long-term.
Huang added that China and the Philippines have been cooperating in pandemic response.
He said China donated one million doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines while another batch of one million doses that were purchased by the Philippines arrived in the Philippines last March 29.
He said more doses are expected to be delivered in the country.
“As a close and friendly neighbor, China will continue to do its utmost to support the Philippines until it secures the final victory against the virus,” he said.
Shortly after the turnover, Duterte distributed the first 100 gadgets to students in the city, according to the City Information Office (CIO).
Based on the data released by the CIO, the city hasbreceived 1,715 laptops and tablets in total -- 310 Huawei laptops were sponsored by the Consulate General's Office of the People’s Republic of China in Davao City, 100 Samsung tablets were sponsored by the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), 280 MyPhone tablets were sponsored by JV Ongpin Foundation Inc., 25 Lenovo/HP laptops were sponsored by JV Angeles Construction Corp., and 1,000 Lenovo tablets from Embassy of the People's Republic of China.
“To our students, may you utilize these devices efficiently as you strive for excellence in attaining your goals and aspiring to be the best that you want to be in this world. Despite the challenges the current pandemic has brought, may you continue to value the importance of education and see it as a beacon of hope in creating a brighter future for yourselves,” she said.