Pangasinan receives 2 new schoolbuildings from SM Foundation

MANILA, Philippines - The 34th & 35th schoolbuildings so far built by SM Prime Holdings were inaugurated and turned over to local school officials in Rosales, Pangasinan. The one-story, two-classroom schoolbuilding in the Carmen Elementary School was built amidst rubbles caused by the floods brought about by typhoon Pepeng. The schoolbuilding serves 815 students from barangays Carmen East and West Rosales, Tumana West, Rosales Proper and San Bartolome. School principal Arturo de la Cruz said after the floods almost 100 students either transferred to other schools while others totally stopped schooling as their families lost their homes and were temporarily housed in Tent City in San Pedro. However, this year some of them have come back to resume schooling. While repairs are still being done by the Division Office of DepEd to some of the schoolbuildings, the SM schoolbuilding has eased the classroom crisis after the killer floods. 

Meanwhile, the Guiling-Coliling National High School also in Rosales is a recipient of a one-story two-classroom schoolbuilding. The school’s student population comes from barangays Guiling, Coliling, Rabago, Palakipak, Camangaan, San Isidro and two barangays in Tarlac: San Agustin and Salcedo.

Officials of both schools were profuse with thanks not only to SM Foundation but also to the SM Rosales Mall who has been supportive of the needs of the school community in Rosales. In his remarks after the awarding of plaque of appreciation to SM founder Henry Sy Sr., Jersey Mendoza said that SM Mall is “giving back the support of our businesses by focusing on the needs of the communities within the vicinity of the mall,” including those located near SM businesses. SM Group of Companies through the SM Foundation continuously finds ways to service the communities within and beyond the malls.