TVIRD gives public education a boost with new digital tools
Supon National High School faculty members and school leaders welcome the turnover of six (6) Smart TV units from TVIRD Balabag, marking another step towards enhanced learning through technology.Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur / April 2026 — For years, classrooms in Bayog have operated with limited resources wherein teachers turn to improvised visual aids and students learn through largely traditional methods. Yet, alongside these constraints, a steady stream of support has continued to reshape the local educational landscape.
Through its Social Development and Management Program (SDMP), TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD) has long supported public education in Bayog – the town that hosts the mining operations of its Balabag Gold-Silver Project. Over the years, the company has been constructing school facilities, providing classroom chairs, and distributing essential learning materials. These interventions have helped improve both access to information and the conditions in which learning takes place.
In its latest initiative, TVIRD turned over 42 Smart TVs to six national high schools in the municipality, expanding its support from physical infrastructure to digital tools intended to enhance the transfer of knowledge through visual communication.
When classrooms are more connected
The distribution of Smart TVs signals a shift in classroom support, moving beyond addressing material shortages toward enhancing how lessons are delivered and experienced.
Inside classrooms, teachers are now able to supplement textbooks and board work with videos, presentations, and other digital materials. Lessons that once relied heavily on static references can now incorporate visual and interactive content, helping expound on lessons that are difficult to explain through traditional methods and materials alone.
For students in schools with limited resources, this also provides a wider access to instructional materials that were previously difficult to obtain, helping bring their rate of learning up to par with other digitally-equipped environments.
Taking weight off the chalk
Educators in recipient schools said the devices are expected to ease instructional delivery and improve classroom engagement. Ryan Madamba, head of Supon National High School, described the Smart TVs as a “missing link” in classroom instruction, noting that they now enable teachers to present lessons more efficiently through digital materials.
Beyond student engagement, the technology also reduces the time teachers spend preparing manual visual aids, allowing more focus on lesson delivery and direct interaction.
The school currently serves 110 students for school year 2025–2026 with enrollment projected to increase in the coming years. School officials said the addition of digital tools will help support both current classroom needs and future requirements.
Expanding approaches to learning
Head teacher at Liba National High School, Elvis Marcos, said the Smart TVs represent more than equipment upgrades – describing them as tools that support more interactive and learner-centered instruction.
With lessons now integrated into multimedia, teachers can present topics in various formats while students engage through discussion, collaboration, and guided activities. This approach supports efforts to develop not only academic knowledge but also critical thinking and adaptability in a technology-driven environment.
Introducing assisted learning through technology at the basic education level allows schools to help establish early digital familiarity among students – which is the foundation for future skills and employment opportunities in the future.
Strengthening support for digital learning
“The distribution of 42 Smart TVs to various high schools in the Bayog District enhances class participation and expands access to digital learning,” according to TVIRD Community Relations Officer Meriam O. Embate who is the lead implementor of the company’s social programs.
She added that the initiative aligns with the Department of Education’s priorities and local development plans to ensure that support responds to identified school needs while contributing to longer-term sustainability.
In communities like Bayog where access to technology remains limited, introducing a digital medium in classrooms helps reduce gaps in learning opportunities and helps develop digital literacy skills.
From basic infrastructure to instructional tools, TVIRD programs have evolved alongside the changing needs of schools and learners. Through the Balabag Project, the company has so far supported the construction of 20 school facilities across its beneficiary communities, including buildings, classrooms, and multipurpose halls.
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