MARILAO, BULACAN — For students who once depended largely on mobile phones and a limited number of aging laptops for schoolwork, a new computer laboratory in Marilao is opening a much bigger door to digital learning.
The JRT Foundation, the charitable arm of Coolaire Consolidated Inc., has launched the Jerry R. Tugade Technology Hub at Heritage Homes Integrated School (HHIS) in Marilao, Bulacan, providing the public school with 20 complete desktop computer sets.
The technology hub was formally launched on August 14, 2026, with support from the Department of Education (DepEd) Region III and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Region III.
The initiative is named after the late Jerry R. Tugade, the former president of Coolaire and the namesake of the JRT Foundation. The foundation says its programs are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education, while also promoting reduced inequalities and partnerships between the public and private sectors.
A school where students had limited access to computers
Heritage Homes Integrated School serves more than 1,100 students, but it had been identified as the only public high school in Marilao without a computer laboratory, according to the foundation’s account of the project. DepEd Region III subsequently identified HHIS as the first beneficiary of the technology hub.
The school’s previous computer resources were severely limited.
Of 45 laptops previously provided through DepEd, only 20 were still functional, according to school principal Dr. Nica Mae Magisa. With insufficient equipment, some students had turned to their smartphones to complete assignments and research work.
That limitation was particularly challenging for senior high school students who need computers for research, document preparation and other digital tasks.
Grade 12 student Mark Hero Domingo said the new computers would help students conduct practical research, particularly when searching for related literature and editing documents—tasks that were more difficult to accomplish using only mobile phones.
The goal goes beyond simply putting computers in a classroom
The new facility is not intended solely for student use.
School officials said the technology hub can also be used to improve teachers’ digital skills, creating opportunities for professional development and digital-literacy training.
For educators who have struggled to keep pace with technology, access to a dedicated computer facility could provide an important training environment while allowing students to gain more hands-on experience.
The initiative comes at a time when access to technology remains an important issue in Philippine education.
The foundation cited figures indicating that 78% of public schools lack functional computers, while 48% of Filipinos do not have internet access and only 18% of Filipino children above age 10 have used a computer. Those figures were cited by JRT Foundation Vice Chairman and Coolaire President Joel Ryan E. Tugade during the launch.
However, broader Philippine digital-education developments show that the situation is changing. For example, recent reporting has highlighted efforts to expand connectivity and digital learning in public schools, including initiatives targeting underserved communities in Bulacan. The Manila Tribune reported in July that the Aboitiz Foundation and ING Hubs Philippines had equipped four last-mile schools in Doña Remedios Trinidad with solar power, satellite internet and learning technology.
Part of a bigger education push by JRT Foundation
The technology hub is also part of a broader education advocacy by the JRT Foundation.
The organization was formally established to carry forward the legacy of Jerry R. Tugade and has made education one of its central areas of social investment. Philstar previously reported that the foundation’s flagship TIKYO Scholarship Program began in 2021 and had expanded from its initial 19 beneficiaries to dozens of students across Metro Manila, Bulacan, the Visayas and Mindanao.
In 2026, the foundation also partnered with the UP Engineering Research & Development Foundation Inc. and the UP Diliman College of Engineering to support scholarships for deserving students. The foundation said it had invested ₱2.5 million in the TIKYO Scholarship Program since 2021.
The foundation has also expanded its student-support efforts beyond financial assistance, including programs focused on mental health awareness and other aspects of youth development.
Why the new hub matters
For HHIS students, the significance of the project goes beyond the number of computers donated.
Having a dedicated computer facility means students can gain direct experience with technology that is increasingly necessary for higher education, employment and everyday life.
It also addresses a particularly important gap: access to technology is not simply about having an internet connection—it is also about having functional devices and the skills to use them effectively.
The JRT Foundation said the partnership with DepEd is intended to help students and teachers strengthen their skills and contribute to a future where fewer learners are left behind.
And for students who previously had to rely on a smartphone simply to complete research or schoolwork, 20 desktop computers could represent far more than new equipment—they could be a first step toward greater digital opportunity.
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