Foundation to build classrooms in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines – Presidential sister Pinky Abellada yesterday said Cebu will be included as beneficiary of the more than 100 classrooms that a foundation will construct this year for pre-school children.

Abellada, chairperson and convenor of the Aklat, Gabay, Aruga tungo sa Pag-Angat at Pag-Asa (AGAPP) Foundation Inc., said that the foundation's focus is to support the education sector with the Department of Education primarily for pre-school children.

"I am encouraging everyone to visit their public school in their area and see what they can do to help," Abellada said in an interview with members of the Cebu media.

Abellada and other board of trustees of the foundation visited four schools in Cebu yesterday. These schools are Labogon Elementary School in Mandaue City, Cambanay Elementary School in Danao City, Pulangbato Elementary School, and Camp Lapu-Lapu Elementary in Cebu City.

Gabriel Cruz, AGAPP Cebu representative, said classrooms and libraries will be built in public elementary schools located in depressed or disadvantaged communities.

Cruz said that aside from providing classrooms, books, and other educational materials, AGAPP will also conduct further training for teachers to enhance their techniques in story telling, among other skills.

"Our immediate target is to ground break at least 10 classrooms nationwide by October 10, 2010 or 10 by 10/ 10/ 10. Fortunately, four of that shall be in Cebu. Our short-term goal is to build 100 schools in 300 days and 2,000 classrooms / libraries by 2016 nationwide," Cruz said.

Cruz added that so far, private companies and other foundations already committed to support their advocacy as part of their corporate social responsibility.

Each classroom would cost around P600,000 each and would include a comfort room.

"This endeavor encourages volunteerism and assured all our donors that we are transparent as to where their donations go," Abellada said.

She added that a furniture company already volunteered to donate furniture for the 100 classrooms while the National Bookstore pledged to donate books.

Abellada said she hopes to build more classrooms for Cebu in the future.

"From my dad, to my mom, and to Noynoy, Cebu is very kind to us," she said. 

Labogon was picked as recipient of the program through the recommendation of Fr. Cris Mostejo, a Redemptorist priest who once put up a mission in the barangay.

At present, the school has seven makeshift classrooms to accommodate some of the 1,846 pupils that cannot be housed in the school's three-story building.

Labogon barangay captain Damaso Tumulak said the makeshift classrooms were put up with the help of the school's Parents-Teacher   Community Association (PTCA) officials. 

Abellada said that through AGAPP, a pre-school building and a min-library will be built in the school next month.

Abellada said the money to be spent for the construction will come from private companies whose advocacy is to improve the quality of education in the country.

Mayor Jonas Cortes is overwhelmed by AGAPP's gesture.

"Fortunate kaayo ang Labogon nga nahimong recipient aning programa nga gibuhat sa grupo ni Pinky and is worthy of emulation. In behalf of the city, I thank you from the bottom of my heart," Cortes said. /JPM (FREEMAN)