GMA Kapuso partners with Novartis to rebuild typhoon-damaged schools

MANILA, Philippines - The GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF), in partnership with research-based healthcare company Novartis Philippines, has completed the rehabilitation of two public elementary schools in Rizal damaged by typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi that ravaged the country last year.

The GMAKF is the non-stock, non-profit philanthropic and humanitarian arm of GMA Network, one of the country’s leading broadcasting networks.

Through its Kapuso School Rehabilitation Project, the GMA Kapuso Foundation, in coordination with the Department of Education, identified a priority list of schools in northern and southern Luzon badly damaged by last year’s spate of typhoons. 

The list included public elementary schools in the provinces of Rizal, Laguna, Pangasinan, Ilocos and Benguet. 

Novartis Philippines, through a P1-million calamity fund donation, supported the GMAKF in facilitating the rehabilitation of two beneficiary-schools in Rizal’s indigent communities.

The Karangalan Elementary School, with a population of 1,500 pre-school and elementary students, is located in Barangay San Isidro, Cainta town, while the Matagbak Elementary School, which has over 200 pre-school and elementary students, is located in Sitio Matagbak, Pililla town. 

“On behalf of the grateful teachers and students of these two schools, we thank Novartis Philippines for their generosity and support. Our work has rebuilt not just their schools and classrooms, but their dreams and aspirations for a better life as well,” said Mel Tiangco, GMAKF executive vice president and chief operating officer.

“We are grateful and privileged to be a part of the GMA Kapuso Foundation’s mission of uplifting the lives of the underprivileged members of our society. Novartis fully supports the foundation’s mission in line with our corporate social responsibility and our company’s ‘caring and curing’ character,” said Eric van Oppens, president and CEO of Novartis Philippines.

“Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the officials, teachers and students of these two schools as well as Ms. Mel Tiangco for giving Novartis the opportunity to lend a helping hand. Rest assured that our company will continue to support the philantrophic and humanitarian projects of the GMAKF,” said Christine Liwanag, corporate affairs and market access director of Novartis Philippines.