Rotarians to build classrooms

CEBU, Philippines - Presidential sister Pinky Aquino-Abellada received support from Rotarians across the country in her advocacy to improve the pre-school education of Filipino children.

Aquino-Abellada sits as convenor and chairperson of the AGAPP Foundation (Aklat Gabay, at Aruga Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa).

She leads the group in building rooms, which function as pre-school classroom and at the same time a library called “Silid Pangarap” in depressed communities.

During the Rotary International District 3860 Conference yesterday, Rotarians from different districts in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao pledged support through partnership with AGAPP.

Rotarians are willing to help the presidential sister by funding the construction of classrooms in identified communities.

AGAPP operates through partnerships with private groups like the Rotary Club.

Aquino-Abellada was Rotary Club International’s guest speaker in a conference yesterday morning.

She shared the lessons she has learned from her parents and their ‘roller coaster’ life since Martial Law. She also shared the success of the various undertakings of the AGAPP Foundation.

AGAPP is a seven-month old foundation she established after each of the president’s four sisters decided to adopt their own advocacies to help him bring reforms to the country.

The foundation’s goal, as promised to the Department of Education, is to build at least 100 pre-school classrooms-cum-libraries in the first year in office of President Aquino.

Since it started, AGAPP turned over 25 classrooms and has started constructing 32 classrooms across the country.

The construction of some 50 more classrooms is expected to begin in the coming weeks.

Of the targeted 100 classrooms, 16 are to be built in Cebu alone. This includes the classrooms already completed and turned over in Danao City, barangay Pulangbato in Cebu City and barangays Subangdaku and Labogon in Mandaue City. The 100 classrooms are expected to improve the lives of some 5,000 children.

Aquino-Abellada said they chose building classrooms for pre-schoolers or children below five years old because less than 40 percent of children five years old have access to education.

This resulted in the high rate of dropouts among pupils in grades 1 to 3.

“Study shows that if the child is well-prepared to enter grade 1, his chances of passing grade 1 are high. Culturally, if children are doing well in school, parents are encouraged to do everything possible to keep them there,” she said.

AGAPP’s projects are two-classroom buildings with one comfort room. They also provide six months worth of educational supplies.

Aside from building rooms, AGAPP is also doing teachers training and other projects to support the parents, like livelihood projects. (FREEMAN)