Coca Cola joins Brigada Eskwela

CEBU, Philippines – In its commitment to support education and corporate social responsibility, the Coca-Cola Philippines Cebu Plant joined the call of Department of Education secretary Jesli Lapus for the private sector to be more active in helping the country’s public schools.

Coca-Cola Cebu employees helped paint the perimeter wall of the Mambaling Elementary School in Cebu City as part of Deped’s Brigada Eskwela to prepare public schools for school opening.

Ann Trasmonte, Coca-Cola Cebu Plant Human Resource manager said that this is also part of the employee’s engagement to let them feel that the company they are working for is also socially responsible.

Tedii Montejo, sales manager of Coca-Cola’s Cebu South territory where the Mambaling Elementary School is situated, said that the southern part is very competitive in sales and to show its gratitude to those who continue to patronize Coca-Cola products, they chose the said school.

“We really want our employees to be socially involved and committed,” Trasmonte said.

Last year, the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc. helped in the Brigada Eskwela of the Mulao Elementary School, barangay Mulao, Liloan town.

Situated on top of the mountain and around 15 kilometers away from the town proper, Coca-Cola’s Little Red Schoolhouse in Mulao, which they constructed in 1998, underwent repair and repainting.

In 1997, Coca-Cola launched a project, “Coca-Cola Little Red Schoolhouse” aimed at improving access to complete elementary education for children in the country’s remote areas.

DepEd made the Little Red Schoolhouse a model of business-government partnership.

The Brigada Eskwela is a schools maintenance program nationwide that engages volunteers, teachers, parents, students and community members to contribute time, efforts, and resources in ensuring that public schools are all set in time for class opening. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP (THE FREEMAN)