3 more Aboitiz firms pledge funds for 'Adopt-A-School'

CEBU - The Aboitiz Foundation has newly enrolled three of its companies to the Department of Education’s Adopt-a-School Project pledging projects worth millions for public education.

The Visayan Electric Company, Aboitiz Energy Solutions, and Luzon Hydro Corporation signed the Memorandum of Agreement with DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus before hundreds of Aboitiz scholars at the Cebu International Convention Center yesterday.

The memorandum of agreement declared the companies’ pledge to embark on projects worth P4 million.

The three companies shall be added to the seven companies of Aboitiz already enrolled in the program.

This intervention in education is part of the Aboitiz commitment to uphold Corporate Social Responsibility by helping in building future leaders of the country.

Xavier Aboitiz, board member of the Aboitiz Foundation, said their company would like to create a great impact directly to their beneficiaries and the society.

They seek not only to uplift the quality of education of the youth, but also to improve competence towards a robust economy.

Since the company shifted its focus in the area of public education in 1996, more than half of the company’s budget is being allocated for education.

Their thrust is to prepare the youth today for better future. Erramon Aboitiz, president of the Aboitiz Foundation, in his speech said they believe that good education is the foundation of progress so they are doing their share to uplift it.

Last year, projects worth P15 million were accomplished for adopt-a-school. These are in the forms of infrastructure building and enhancement, and information technology-related programs like donation of computers, building of computer laboratories, and student-teachers trainings.

They also gave financial assistance and scholarships.

For the infrastructure projects, they have built 165 classrooms all over the country that have benefited 20,000 students.

This year, 22 more are set to be built and they are targeting to build 15 classrooms every year in Cebu alone. — Jessica Ann Pareja/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)