Aklan to get Noah’s Ark classrooms from Globe

MANILA, Philippines - This is not your typical classroom donation. Leading telecom company Globe Telecom has joined hands with Habitat for Humanity to build special Noah’s Ark classrooms that could double as evacuation sites during calamities.

The project kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony for a Noah’s Ark special classroom in Balete Elementary School, Aklan. 

Designed by Habitat for Humanity, the Noah’s Ark classroom can house a big number of people and is equipped with two toilet and bath facilities and a kitchen to provide a safe and convenient place for people in the community.

It is also one of several projects being undertaken by Globe as a development partner for Aklan under the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR).

Globe Platinum, the premium Postpaid brand, together with Globe Rewards, are funding the construction of Noah’s Ark classrooms in seven municipalities in Aklan hardest hit by Typhoon Yolanda late last year. These include Libacao, Madalag, Banga, Batan, Altavas, Balete, and New Washington. Globe Platinum and Globe Rewards are making this contribution in lieu of giving gifts during the holiday season.

 “We understand that most of our customers look for meaningful advocacies to support and involve themselves in. Through the Noah’s Ark project, our customers will be able to give the gift of hope and inspiration to many more Filipinos ?this Christmas ?and help give them a better future,” said Kaisie del Carmen, director for Globe Platinum.

 In response, Aklan vice governor Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo, delivering a message by Gov. Florencio T. Miraflores, said: “My heartfelt gratitude to Globe for involving Aklan in the continued rehabilitation program. Even if it has already been over a year, we cannot deny that many Aklanons are still struggling to regain what they have lost in the catastrophic typhoon. Thank you for Noah’s Ark, the newest crucial project for Aklanons.  Surely, this will serve many purposes not only for the pupils but for the whole community.  Thank you for establishing corporate social responsibility advocacies to complement network development. Thank you for considering our province as a primary development area.  Be assured that the provincial government of Aklan will always be willing to partner with you to better serve our investors, our tourists, and our fellow Aklanons.”

On top of the seven Noah’s Arks, Globe also committed to build 33 regular “built back better” classrooms in the identified municipalities to be funded by proceeds of Project 1 Phone, the company’s electronic waste recycling campaign, and its parent-company Ayala Corporation.

“As development partner for Aklan, it is our role to move things faster for the recovery and the rehabilitation of the province with the assistance of OPARR. Aside from bonding us internally, Typhoon Haiyan also bonded us closer to our customers in terms of being able to look after them, providing relief in times of disaster, and keeping an eye on their needs, among others. Also, corporate social responsibility is no longer just for our CSR team. For instance, Globe Platinum is funding Noah’s Ark, Globe Prepaid is bringing livelihood activities to Aklanons, while Globe Tattoo is building homes,” shared Yoly Crisanto, SVP of Globe Corporate Communications. 

Globe has started building 40 homes in New Washington in partnership with Gawad Kalinga and UT Global Foundation. Twenty-eight houses are also set to be constructed in Libacao.

 Globe is also providing livelihood opportunities through a Custom Made Crafts Center, a non-government organization involved in dye and abaca production and the Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Program aside from the distribution of AutoloadMax retailer kits to 100 beneficiaries of the DSWD’s Pantawid Pampamilyang Pilipino Program in Malay.