Four public elementary schools in Valenzuela City received a total of 378 digital devices through a joint effort led by the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), reinforcing industry support for digital education in public schools.

The distribution was carried out under IBPAP’s Byte The Gap initiative, a program that mobilizes the IT-BPM sector to help narrow technology gaps among Filipino learners. The turnover ceremony took place at Malinta Elementary School and brought together representatives from the Department of Education (DepEd), the Valenzuela City government, and private sector partners.

Education secretary Sonny Angara and Valenzuela City mayor Wes Gatchalian attended the event alongside executives from Ascendion, EY Global Delivery Services, and Shearwater Health. Representing their respective organizations were Carlo Roble, director for People, Culture, and human resources at Ascendion; Andrea Catte, executive director for Global Compliance and Reporting at EY GDS Philippines; and Michelle Palapac, senior manager for IT at Shearwater Health.

The donated devices will be distributed among Pio Valenzuela Elementary School, Santiago A. De Guzman Elementary School, Lawang Bato Elementary School, and Malinta Elementary School. School officials said the additional equipment will help improve access to digital tools that are increasingly necessary in today’s learning environment.

Industry representatives expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration with DepEd and the local government, noting that sustained partnerships are key to expanding digital access in underserved communities.

IBPAP officials Genny Marcial, head of membership, and Zel Galapon, Program Manager, underscored the importance of coordinated efforts between business and government in preparing students for future employment opportunities, particularly as artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies reshape the global workforce.

The initiative reflects a broader push within the IT-BPM sector to invest in education and workforce readiness. Organizers said that aligning public and private resources not only equips students with essential digital skills but also helps strengthen the country’s long-term talent pipeline.