Internet connectivity and the high cost of mobile data are two obstacles impeding online learning for many of our country’s impoverished students during this pandemic.
This reality is also true for many of our “Iskolar ng Bayan” studying in the University of the Philippines Visayas.
Last April 2, 2022, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) turned over cash donations to the UP Visayas College of Arts and Sciences Student Council. This will be used to buy load for internet connectivity for those deserving students who were found to be dependent on the use of mobile data for their online classes.
This project is in close collaboration with Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association (USPAA), Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association Davao Chapter (USPAA-Davao), and the resident fellows of the Upsilon Sigma Phi based in Diliman and Los Baños.
The internet connectivity assistance project is under the umbrella of the “UP Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral Project” of the UP System which was launched in 2020. The main goal of this umbrella project is to raise funds to buy computers, laptops, and internet connectivity to be given to financially challenged students in this time of the pandemic.
The UPAA is actively supporting this project. As to date, the association has donated over Php1.5 Million to UP Foundation, 43 units of desktop computers to UP Diliman College of Music and College of Architecture, Php100,000 cash to the UPLB Department of Social Sciences, Php15,000 to UPLB Sociology Class composed of 20 students, and internet connectivity assistance to 42 students of UP Mindanao.
The cash donation was handed over by the UPAA President and Alumni Regent Atty. Reynaldo Laserna, USPAA former Chairman Engr. Ramon Allado, USPAA Davao Chapter President Atty. Jeffrey Coronel, UPAA ang USPAA Director Roel Castro, and UPAA Director and UP Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral Project in-charge Director Robert Aranton.
The turnover also coincided with the birthday celebration of USPAA Director Roel Castro, who is also the president and COO of MORE Power, Iloilo City’s sole power distributor.
The UP Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral Project is an on-going fund-raising endeavor. The UPAA is inviting all UP Alumni to support this noble cause. Financial support for the UP Kaagapay sa Pagaaral Project may be sent to the UPAA through the following accounts:
Philippine Veterans Bank
U.P. Diliman Branch
PESO Current Account
Account name: UP Alumni Association
Account number: 00037-000006-0
DOLLAR Account
Account name: UP Alumni Association
Account number: 0372-00000-2
Union Bank of the Philippines
Katipunan Branch
PESO Current Account
Account name: University of the Philippines Alumni Association, Inc.
Account number: 0021-1000-2731
Let us continue to pay forward what our alma mater has helped us become and live the true nature of being Iskolars Para sa Bayan!
