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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DepEd, IT-BPM firms team up to modernize classrooms, bridge digital divide in public schools

DepEd, IT-BPM firms team up to modernize classrooms, bridge digital divide in public schools

Education Secretary Sonny Angara highlights stronger government–industry collaboration to equip teachers and learners with modern devices and AI-era competencies

Published Dec 11, 2025 06:47 pm
Students and teachers of Rizal Elementary School receive new laptops from IT-BPM member firms under IBPAP, boosting DepEd’s digitalization efforts and helping close classroom technology gaps nationwide. (Photo from DepEd)
Students and teachers of Rizal Elementary School receive new laptops from IT-BPM member firms under IBPAP, boosting DepEd’s digitalization efforts and helping close classroom technology gaps nationwide. (Photo from DepEd)
Highlighting the government’s push to equip teachers and learners with up-to-date devices and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-era skills, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara said the department is strengthening its digitalization drive as it teams up with major firms to modernize public school classrooms and help close the digital divide nationwide.
Angara on Thursday, December 11, underscored the vital role of the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector in accelerating the digital transformation of public schools under the Marcos administration, as the DepEd continues to expand partnerships aimed at bridging longstanding technology gaps.
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara leads the ceremonial turnover of laptops donated by Cognizant Technology Solutions Philippines Inc. to Rizal Elementary School in Taguig, part of DepEd’s wider push to modernize public school classrooms. (Photo from DepEd)
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara leads the ceremonial turnover of laptops donated by Cognizant Technology Solutions Philippines Inc. to Rizal Elementary School in Taguig, part of DepEd’s wider push to modernize public school classrooms. (Photo from DepEd)
At a turnover ceremony in Rizal Elementary School in Taguig, Cognizant Technology Solutions Philippines Inc. (CTSPI) donated 906 laptops, 80 of which were assigned to the host school.
Angara said the support of private firms is helping DepEd strengthen its modernization efforts despite budget constraints. “Malaking benepisyo ito kasi maraming gusto tumulong sa DepEd (This is a big benefit because many want to help DepEd),” he explained.
“Binuksan talaga natin ang pintuan at ginawa nating madali para makapagpartner sa DepEd (We really opened the doors and made it easy to partner with DepEd),” Angara said. “Malaking bagay ito sa ating mga teacher and students dahil sa limited budget (This is a significant advantage for our teachers and students given the limited budget),” he added.
The donation was made through the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), led by President and CEO Jack Madrid. IBPAP member companies—including Telus, PwC, Lenovo PCCW Solutions, Amadeus, Carelon, ING Hubs, Shearwater Health, and EY GDS—have so far provided more than 1,800 ICT equipment units to public schools nationwide.
Photo courtesy of DepEd
Photo courtesy of DepEd
Boost to DepEd’s 2026 digitalization drive
Angara said the initiative complements the Department’s planned digital reforms for 2026.
The Senate version of the 2026 national budget earmarks P16.86 billion for the DepEd Computerization Program (DCP), which will fund a major rollout of devices and connectivity upgrades across the country.
Under the strengthened 2026 digitalization packages—now up for bicameral approval—DepEd expects to deploy: 255,590 laptops for teachers; 60,070 laptops for learning cart packages; 29,619 smart TVs; and 9,654 laptops for non-teaching personnel.
Expanded internet access for 8,253 school sites
Angara also emphasized the urgency of strengthening digital literacy in public schools, saying the country must keep pace with the rapidly evolving age of AI as he thanked Congress for backing DepEd’s digitalization push.
“Gusto natin talaga computer literate ang ating mga estudyante kasi andito na tayo sa Age of Artificial Intelligence (We really want our students to be computer literate because we are now in the Age of Artificial Intelligence),” Angara said.
“Magbabago lahat ng industriya, magbabago lahat ng pamamaraan, kailangan hindi maiwan ang Pilipino—’yun ang gusto ni Pangulong Bongbong (All industries will change, all methods will change, and Filipinos must not be left behind—that is what President Bongbong wants),” he added.
Industry support closes equipment gaps
Angara noted that many public schools still operate with limited or outdated devices.
Rizal Elementary School, for example, serves more than 4,500 learners but only had 38 functional computers before the donation. Partnerships with industry leaders, he said, accelerate DepEd’s efforts to close resource gaps and improve digital access.
Beyond the DCP, DepEd is also pursuing the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) Connect, which aims to provide more devices, connectivity solutions, and reliable power systems in public schools across the country.
DepEd said it is also expanding satellite-based connectivity for schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA).
Future-ready learning
DepEd said continued collaboration with the IT-BPM sector supports the country’s long-term goal of building future-ready classrooms by giving learners early exposure to digital tools and competencies aligned with emerging industry demands.
Angara, who personally led the ceremonial turnover of the laptops in Taguig, said the partnership exemplifies how government and industry can work together to modernize the public school system, uplift teaching and learning conditions, and prepare students for a technology-driven future.



Related Tags

DepEd digitalization Sonny Angara DepEd IT-BPM education partnership DepEd modernization program DepEd Computerization Program 2026
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