Officials from Converge and STEC-STES during the handover of 20 learning tablets to support the school in developing students’ digital skills.
IN PHOTO: Converge VP and Head of Corporate Communications and Public Relations Jay-Anne Encarnado (center), STEC-STES Principal Susana Amora (center-left), and Converge Regional General Manager – Visayas Geovani Jayme (center-right). From right: Converge Stakeholder Relations Manager Jennifer Ambanta, Converge Deputy Data Protection Officer and Senior Manager Janine Villabeto-Solete, Converge AVP and Head of Data Privacy and Information Security Compliance Eumir Paolo Espiritu, and J Fiber Internet Services Corp. General Manager Burt Dimaunahan.
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has expanded its child online safety and data privacy campaign to Cebu, bringing its Project PIGLET digital literacy program to elementary students in Lapu-Lapu City.
The initiative, formally known as Privacy Integration through Guided Learning of Emerging Technologies, aims to help children understand online risks and develop safer digital habits as internet use becomes increasingly integrated into education and everyday life.
For its Cebu rollout, Converge’s data privacy and corporate communications teams conducted interactive, space-themed learning sessions for third- and fifth-grade students of the Science and Technology Education Center – Science and Technology Elementary School (STEC-STES).
Teaching children to recognize online threats
The Cebu sessions used interactive storytelling through “The Adventures of Captain Conrad and the Astro Kids”, a curriculum designed for children as young as seven.
Students learned about identifying online scams, preventing identity theft, and avoiding online grooming. The program also covered responsible online engagement and recognizing malicious content that may encourage or incite harm.
“Especially now that the internet is potentially exploited to influence minors, we must take active steps to educate children on practicing vigilance,” said Eumir Paolo Espiritu, Converge AVP and Head of Data Privacy and Information Security Compliance.
“The digital space offers boundless learning opportunities, but only if our youth are equipped to navigate it safely,” Espiritu added.
According to Atty. Laurice Esteban-Tuason, Converge SVP and Data Protection Officer, Project PIGLET is designed to integrate cyber awareness into children’s everyday internet use.
Digital safety extends beyond network protection
Converge also donated learning tablets to STEC, supporting the school’s digital capabilities and providing students with additional access to educational online resources.
STEC-STES Principal Susana Amora said the initiative comes as schools continue to accelerate their adoption of digital technologies, while emphasizing the role of parents and educators in developing responsible online behavior.
For Converge, educating users complements its technical approach to online safety.
“As an internet service provider, our goal is a clean, secure network, but we cannot do it alone,” said Jay-Anne Encarnado, Converge VP and Head of Corporate Communications and Public Relations.
“We need a cooperative ecosystem—parents, educators, and schools working alongside us—to safeguard the digital lives of Filipino children,” Encarnado added.
Network-level defenses block billions of risky requests
Project PIGLET is part of Converge’s broader cybersecurity and online safety efforts.
The company reported that in 2025, it denied nearly 12 billion entry requests to websites containing dangerous, inappropriate, and harmful content. It also said it blacklisted more than 72,000 domains associated with illicit materials.
Converge CEO and Co-Founder Dennis Anthony Uy said the company is also working with government and international organizations on cyber-threat prevention and online safety.
These include the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Internet Watch Foundation.
“However, network blocks are only half the battle; empowering our youth through education is the ultimate shield,” Uy said.
The approach combines network-level security controls with digital literacy, addressing both the technical and human aspects of online safety.
Project PIGLET earns national recognition
Converge’s child online safety advocacy has also received recognition from the National Privacy Commission (NPC), which awarded the company the Kabataang Digital Award for Project PIGLET.
The award recognizes initiatives that promote digital responsibility, privacy awareness, and data protection for children.
First launched in late 2024, Project PIGLET has since expanded to several areas, including Metro Manila, Pampanga, Mindoro, and Cebu.
The Cebu rollout extends Converge’s broader “Tech for Good” initiative, combining technology, cybersecurity, data privacy education, and community engagement to help young Filipinos navigate an increasingly connected digital environment.
