TO help fill classroom shortage in the country, the Aboitiz Foundation turned over on Friday 30 Aklat, Gabay, Aruga Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa Silid Pangarap (AGAPP) classrooms to the Department of Education (DepEd), benefiting 1,800 kindergarten pupils.
Built in 15 schools nationwide, these brought the total classrooms donated by the corporate foundation of the Aboitiz Group to 246 since 2011. “We, in Aboitiz, believe that a better-educated youth means a better Philippines,” said Erramon I. Aboitiz, chairman of Aboitiz Foundation.
“We believe it is in education where we can create the greatest impact, so it is only fitting that we allocate the bulk of our CSR [corporate social responsibility]budget to it,” he said. Through its alliance with AGAPP in the last five years, the foundation has, so far, spent more than P143 million to build 246 Silid Pangarap classrooms in 123 schools, benefiting over 55,000 kindergarten pupils across the country.
Last year the Aboitiz Group spent P415 million on CSR initiatives, with over 500,000 direct beneficiaries. More than half of this amount, or P232 million, was allotted to building academic environment through facilities and assets, conducive to the students’ learning environment.
Also, it was during the time when the DepEd cited the Aboitiz Group as a long-standing partner and the biggest contributor in the government’s effort to elevate the quality of public education in the country. “Indeed, AGAPP Silid Pangarap is more than just a school building. To the excited and curious little girls and boys it has welcomed over the years, it is where their dreams and imagination are awakened and nurtured,” the chairman said.
“It is our privilege to be able to do our part, and we commit to continue doing our part, to help make our youth become lifelong learners,” he said. Other Aboitiz Foundation officials, namely, Antonio R. Moraza, trustee; and Augusto Carpio III, EVP and COO, witnessed the ceremonial turnover held at the Enderun Colleges in Taguig City. Joining them were AGAPP Chairman Pinky Aquino-Abellada, Education Undersecretary for Partnerships and External Linkages Mario A. Deriquito and other DepEd and local government officials, as well as kindergarten teachers and principals from beneficiary schools.