Quezon City — Jeffrey N. Llanto Executive Director of CVISNET Foundation, Inc. is a featured panelist at the 5th Social Enterprise Advocacy and Leveraging (SEAL Asia) Conference. Organized by The Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA) and regional partners, the gathering takes place at the University of the Philippines Diliman on August 12 – 14, 2026.

During its Day 1 Opening Session on August 12, 2026, Mr. Llanto shared CVISNET Foundation’s Community-Centered initiatives under Plenary 1: "Community Centered Connectivity Initiatives (CCCIs) as Social Enterprise Accelerators to Achieve the SDGs, Bridge the Digital Divide, and Connect the Unconnected".

Moderated by Atty. Krystal Lyn Uy, Undersecretary for Legal Services and Local Finance Group and champion of the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, the 90-minute session explores how connectivity serves as a core driver for local empowerment, disaster resilience, and sustainable economic development.

During his presentation entitled “The 3 Cs of Community Empowerment: Bridging the Digital Divide”, Mr. Llanto showcased CVISNET Foundation’s ISLET-Connect initiative or Internet for Sustainable Livelihood, e-Education & Tourism. He shared practical insights on scaling community-owned connectivity frameworks that incorporate smart local innovations, gender integration, and capacity building to bridge the digital divide across geographically isolated communities in the Visayas.

"Connectivity is far more than physical infrastructure—it is the catalyst that enables local communities to build climate resilience, expand digital literacy, and foster social enterprise," said Jeffrey Llanto, Executive Director of CVISNET. "Through ISLET-Connect, we are proving that community-centered connectivity can serve as an engine to accelerate the SDGs from the ground up."

The session also features prominent regional panel members, including Dr. Rajashree Joshi (BAIF Development Research Foundation, India), Gustaff Iskandar (Common Room Networks Foundation, Indonesia), and Naveed Haq (Internet Society, Global). Together, the panel addressed cross-cutting strategies to support the Local Networks (LocNet) Initiative and advance policy frameworks as the region navigates climate, economic, and digital challenges.

Organized by The Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA), the 5th SEAL Asia Conference convened regional changemakers in partnership with the Japan Foundation, Social Value Japan, the Association for Progressive Communications, Oxfam-Pilipinas, Manila Observatory, the Poverty Reduction through Social Entrepreneurship Coalition, and the University of the Philippines.