GSIS brings tech lifeline to remote Dumaguete school

Demonstrating its dedication to advancing education in the Philippines, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) recently donated P400,000 worth of digital equipment to Patrociña D. Encarnacion National High School, a remote public school located in the far-flung barangays of Dumaguete.

The donation—which includes nine laptops, two printers, and three wall fans—was made possible through GSIS’s Adopt-a-School initiative, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd). The program focuses on empowering “last-mile schools,” or institutions located in hard-to-reach areas with limited access to basic learning tools and digital resources.

“This school is not just remote—it’s resilient,” said GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso. “Our commitment goes beyond equipment. Every laptop we hand over is a symbol of hope and a passport to new opportunities in this digital age.”

Reaching the school is no easy feat. Formerly known as Jose B. Cardenas Memorial High School, the campus can only be accessed after a four-hour drive and a hike through rugged terrain, making it one of the 165 last-mile schools targeted under the program nationwide.

Veloso emphasized that this donation aligns with both DepEd’s Last Mile School Program and GSIS’s broader corporate social responsibility goals of bridging educational gaps. “We believe every Filipino child—regardless of location—deserves a fair shot at quality education. This is our way of leveling the playing field.”

With fresh tech tools in hand, students and teachers at Patrociña D. Encarnacion NHS now have a better shot at joining the digital future—one gadget, one lesson, and one dream at a time. TRACY CABRERA