Aboitiz Foundation supports digitalizing 300 Last Mile Schools

Aboitiz Foundation supports digitalizing 300 Last Mile Schools | Daily Tribune

In strong alignment with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s recent call to expand internet access in the country’s most remote areas, Aboitiz Foundation, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), is accelerating its efforts to energize and digitally enable last mile schools across the Philippines, targeting at least 300 schools as part of its ongoing rollout. Aboitiz Foundation believes that powering schools is the critical first step toward making digital learning a reality for students in underserved communities.

“The President’s strong emphasis on widening internet access aligns with our mission. Power and connectivity goes hand in hand — there’s no digital learning without electricity,” said Sabin M. Aboitiz, chairman of Aboitiz Foundation. “Every school we energize and connect brings us closer to a future where no Filipino learner is left behind. Together, these enable access to quality education, turning even the most remote classrooms into launchpads for lifelong learning and transformation.”

One of Aboitiz Foundation’s flagship initiatives, AuroraPH, is designed to bridge the digital and energy divide in the country’s most underserved public schools. It addresses a critical gap in the Philippine educational landscape: over 1,500 public schools remain without electricity, and more than 9,000 last mile schools lack access to essential digital infrastructure. In partnership with DepEd, AuroraPH delivers solar power, internet connectivity, and digital tools to transform off-grid classrooms into centers of learning and opportunity.

Following a successful pilot in 2024, AuroraPH energized off-grid schools across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, directly benefiting over 5,000 students and educators. Building on this momentum, the Foundation is ramping up efforts in 2025, targeting 100 schools this year toward its overall goal of 300, which would represent roughly 20 percent of currently unenergized public schools nationwide.

As of June 2025, Aboitiz Foundation has energized eight schools, with two more ready for turnover and eight in various stages of implementation. Another 31 schools are currently in the pipeline. These milestones mark steady progress in Aboitiz Foundation’s mission to bring digital inclusion to the most isolated learning environments.

The program directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education and contributes to broader national goals of digital inclusion and equitable development. Backed by strategic partnerships across the public and private sectors, AuroraPH serves as more than just an infrastructure project — it is a catalyst for sustainable transformation in the Philippine education system.

This initiative also forms part of the Aboitiz Group’s transition into the Philippines’ first techglomerate, leveraging innovation and technology to uplift communities and build a more inclusive future.

“By energizing these last mile schools today, the Aboitiz Foundation is lighting the path to digital equity and lifelong learning for all. We believe education should not be limited by geography,” said Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, Aboitiz Foundation president.

“By lighting up these last-mile schools, we’re laying the foundation for a more inclusive, tech-enabled future for every Filipino learner,” Hontiveros-Malvar added.

Those who wish to support or partner with Aboitiz Foundation in this mission are encouraged to reach out via aboitizfoundation@aboitiz.com. Together, we can power up possibilities and transform lives — one school at a time.