SM Foundation allots P50-M annually for education

MANILA, Philippines - Each year, SM Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of retail and mall leader SM, has been allotting P50 million for education, of which P10 million is spent on new schoolbuildings that it puts up in areas most deserving of its philanthropy. The bulk is spent on funding college sponsorships for bright and deserving but poor students.

Executive Director Carmen Linda Atayde told The STAR that SM Foundation has so far provided scholarships to 1,180 college graduates, many of them finishing with honors and had jobs awaiting them here and abroad.

“We don’t oblige our graduates to join the SM Group but let the graduates decide where to work,” Atayde said taking pride that this is their difference from the college scholarships offered by other companies.

Last Aug.10, the company inaugurated a one-story four-classroom schoolbuilding in Looc, Nasugbu, Batangas which came from a P1 million cash donation from businessman Stephen Cu-Unjieng (otherwise allotted for his birthday bash last year that he scrapped) and matched by SM Foundation for the cost of building plus additional funds for desks, electric fans, cabinets for books and instructional materials, books and toilets for each classroom. The well-ventilated new classrooms will enable the high school students, previously cramped in rooms with 80 to 90 students per section (of three sections) at each level, to enjoy a more conducive learning environment with a ratio of only 50 students per classroom.

The choice of Looc National High School for the schoolbuilding program came from the suggestion of an SM official, who was asked to speak at the commencement exercise in 2007 and saw the dismal condition of the school, Atayde said. But normally, SM Foundation makes its decision on schoolbuildings on the basis of a recommendation from the Department of Education (DepEd) on overpopulated schools, congested and dilapidated classrooms and other considerations, Atayde explained.

Atayde, in a speech before the grateful students, said she hopes some of them would apply for college scholarships with the foundation so they can pursue higher education even at the Batangas State College.

 Jess Lucas, president of Costa del Hamilo Inc. (SM’s high-end membership resort in Nasugbu) told the students they were fortunate to have 7 to 8 national high schools while other districts and provinces had only one. The school caters to the residents of barangays Papaya, Looc, Bulingan and Calayo.

 “And you have so many big companies locating and putting up tourism establishments in your province, which will provide jobs for your families. So make the best use of these opportunities,” Lucas said.

Hamilo Coast is located three to four kilometers away from the school and started construction two years ago. It offers beach club facilities and condominium (rentals or ownership) to members.

For August, SM Foundation will inaugurate two schoolbuildings in Naga City. For September, newly-built two-story four- classroom schoolbuildings for inauguration are one in Quezon City (the D. Tuazon Elementary School), one in Davao and one in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

The SM Foundation is planning an alumni homecoming by October to gather all its graduates and keep track of them to determine the success of the foundation. The scholars come from families with annual earnings of at least P100,000.

SM Foundation will soon be partnering with GMA Kapuso Foundation in the construction of new schoolbuildings.