Deutsche Bank and SM Prime Holdings build more classrooms in Pateros

MANILA, Philippines - Deutsche Bank AG Manila and SM Prime Holdings have further strengthened their social responsibility partnership with the inauguration of the 7th schoolbuilding built in Barangay San Pedro, Pateros.  The Pateros Elementary School is the recipient of a two-story schoolbuilding which came complete with books, computers and health kits for Kindergarten pupils. Aside from blackboards, teachers’ tables, electric fans and student chairs, a toilet with running water is provided for in each classroom.

The school built in 1900 serves 10 barangays: San Pedro, Poblacion, Tabacalera, Magtangol, Sta. Ana, San Roque,Agujo, Sto. Rosario, Silangan and Kanluran.  Because of the lack of classrooms, ratio per classroom is 45-49 students on two shifts from Grades 1 – VI while Kindergarten with 11 sections goes on 3 shifts with a contingency of 67 regular teachers, four volunteer teachers for Kindergarten and two teachers and a librarian from the Local School Municipality Board government unit called “job order.” 

According to lawyer Rhoneil Fajardo, CFO of Deutsche Bank AG Manila, who represented the bank during the official turn-over of the school to DepEd, local government of Pateros and the school head, “upliftment of education is a big passion of Deutsche Bank in the Philippines. We have a commitment to address the shortage of classrooms and learning facilities and partnership with SM Prime Holdings has led to the building of 35 classrooms in 12 schools in Metro Manila and the provinces.”  Data from DepEd showed that Pateros Elementary School was badly in need of additional classrooms so SM Foundation paved the way for the partnership.  Furthermore, employees of Deutsche Bank have painted murals in the classroom during weekends making it “a platform of enriching good values, love of environment and love of country.”

School teacher-charge Ferdinand Yanos profusely thanked Deutsche Bank, SM Prime Holdings & SM Foundation for the donation which will benefit the 2,550 students enrolled in the school. He promised to take care of the schoolbuilding so that SM Foundation who maintains the building facility will not have a difficult time with its maintenance program.

SMFI executive director for Education Carmen Linda Atayde said that the Deutsche Bank AG Manila and SM Prime Holdings schoolbuilding project in Pateros is the 55th schoolbuilding built by the Foundation bringing a total of 135 classrooms and the 7th schoolbuilding built in partnership with Deutsche Bank. Another schoolbuilding born out of this partnership will be built in Tanza, Cavite early 2014.

As the SM Foundation celebrates its 30th year, it is relentless in its drive to offer education through its scholarship and schoolbuilding programs to the underprivileged  for after all, education is the core of the  its Corporate Social Responsibility.