Aboitiz Foundation affirms commitment to implement education related programs

MANILA, Philippines - To affirm its continued commitment for an improved public education system, the Aboitiz Foundation recently held its Interventions in Education event at the Cebu International Convention Center.

Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro graced the event that was attended by Aboitiz Foundation officials led by its president Jon Ramon Aboitiz, as well as top executives from Aboitiz Group companies. Also present were the Foundation scholars, representatives of beneficiary schools, project partners and key officials from different local government units.

During the event, Sec. Luistro and Mr. Aboitiz signed a memorandum of understanding to seal the Aboitiz Foundation’s pledge to continue implementing education-related programs.

“We believe it is in the area of education that we can create the greatest impact with the most positive effects on the lives of our beneficiaries,” Aboitiz said.

Various Aboitiz business units contribute yearly to the Aboitiz Foundation to fund its programs. Approximately half of the Foundation’s annual budget goes to projects under education. From 2000 to the present, it has spent over P711 million on education-related projects, or 49 percent of the P1.4 billion allocated for all CSR projects groupwide.

This is in support of the Adopt-a-School Program (Republic Act 8525), which encourages companies to assist in the delivery of better quality education to public schools in the country, particularly in poverty-stricken provinces. The Aboitiz Foundation also actively supports Brigada Eskwela.

The Foundation’s education-related projects include school buildings and classrooms, scholarships and financial assistance programs to deserving students, and an integrated computerization program.

Other interventions of Aboitiz Group companies include UnionBank’s Learning System: Developmental Reading Integrated with Values Education for Good Citizenship, Pilmico’s Capas Brainshow, Davao Light’s Outland Adventure Camp, library kit donations, e-Learning, vocational and technical training centers, and coalition building.

To date, some 32,000 public school students nationwide have benefited from the 261 classrooms the Aboitiz Foundation has built since 1996, thus making a classroom environment conducive to learning and helps improve students’ performance. Nearly 10,000 students have benefited from over a thousand computers that the Foundation has donated, while 60 computer laboratories have been refurbished. Some 1,300 students from street children to college students are supported every year through different scholarship programs.