Globe Telecom unit m360, in partnership with the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) and World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), kicked off its Digital for Good: From Farm to Chat initiative in Naic, Cavite as part of its mission to boost the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk through digital literacy workshops and health care support.

Consisting of a digital skills training session and free minor surgeries, the Digital for Good: From Farm to Chat community outreach day started with a half-day workshop facilitated by m360 volunteers covering four practical topics: digital product catalogue creation, order-taking via messaging, digital promotion, and basic digital safety. 

m360 tapped WSFP to conduct the medical mission portion of the community outreach day. Up to 150 patients were pre-screened by WSFP for the minor surgical care that took place in the afternoon.

Mayor Rommel Magbitang (center) shows support for the Digital for Good initiative

"Rural farming and fishing communities face two compounding barriers - limited digital access and untreated health conditions - that hold them back from fully participating in the economy. Removing both barriers will help create real and lasting change. Our mission is to enable every Filipino community to connect, communicate, and grow," said Ramon ‘Mon’ Hirang, m360 President and CEO.

Mr. Hirang, m360 President and CEO speaks with Naic Cavite farmers and fisherfolks

"At m360, we believe that how we work matters as much as what we build. We are committed to using our platform not just as a business tool, but as a force for genuine social good," he added.

Narrowing the digital divide one community workshop at a time

During the digital literacy workshop, m360 volunteers showed participants how to use their cellphones to sell, promote, and protect their livelihoods.

The workshop consisted of three main topics - Ibenta Mo Online, Kumita sa Chat, and Huwag Matakot sa Internet.  To help participants reach a wider market for their products online, volunteers demonstrated how to take a good product photo using their cellphones, write a simple description, and how to share via chat or Facebook. m360 volunteers likewise showed participants how to use Viber or SMS to take orders, confirm payments, and follow up with buyers. Simple scripts and sample conversations were included. 

The discussions also touched on spotting fake buyers, the need to confirm payments before releasing goods, and adopting simple practices that will help ensure safe and secure online selling and transactions. 

Collaborating for good

From left to right: Dr. Lester Suntay, President & Co-Founder of WSFP, Mr. Ed Dela Torre, President & Vice Chairperson of PRRM, and Mr. Ramon ‘Mon’ Hirang, President and CEO of  m360.

Mr. Hirang said the Naic outreach marks the start of a broader rollout of Digital for Good activities across the Philippines. More communities in Luzon and beyond are expected to benefit from the program in the coming months

m360 is a Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) provider under Brave Connective Holdings, Inc., a Globe Telecom portfolio company. The enterprise helps businesses connect with their customers through SMS, Viber, WhatsApp, and other messaging channels - enabling real-time, scalable, and meaningful communication across industries. Digital for Good is m360's corporate social responsibility initiative – a long-term commitment to bridge the digital divide in underserved Filipino communities by leveraging its CPaaS expertise to create meaningful connections where they are needed most. Its goal is to make every business a digital business.

PRRM is the oldest and largest non-government organization (NGO) network in the Philippines, with over 70 years of grassroots community development experience and international affiliations including the United Nations. PRRM connects m360 directly to farming and fishing cooperatives, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and families across Luzon and beyond. 

“m360’s Digital for Good program will make a big difference to rural communities and help farmers and fisher folk keep up and adapt to the digital world,” said Ed Dela Torre, President & Vice Chairperson, PRRM. 

Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), WSFP is a non-profit foundation committed to providing free, accessible, and sustainable surgical healthcare to marginalized Filipino communities. Its volunteers include licensed surgeons, nurses and medical staff with the capacity to serve up to 150 patients per outreach mission. 

"With our Surgical Outreach Program, we try to help address the surgical backlog in our country by providing treatments to indigent patients in underserved communities. Through this partnership with m360, our volunteer medical team will be able to reach out and provide life changing treatments to more vulnerable Filipinos," said Dr. Lester Suntay, President & Co-Founder