Groups donate learning materials to children
Sun.Star Cebu
December 17, 2010
Because of donated used batteries, 8,134 pupils in the Visayas will be able to read more books and enhance their knowledge through the mini-libraries they received.
Recently, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) with the help of Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBS) turned over additional learning materials to eight schools in Cebu through the Motolite-PBSP Balik-Baterya Program.
The schools are located in the islands of Olango and Pangan-an in Lapu-Lapu CIty, Mandaue City and in the villages of Cebu City and Balamban town.
Launched in 2006, the Motolite-PBSP Balik-Baterya Program aims to achieve two results: protect the environment by properly disposing and recycling used lead acid batteries (ULABs), which may potentially poison the soil, and improve the learning of pupils through the proceeds of the donated ULABs with the provision of books, training of teachers and holding of remedial reading camps.
ULABs donated by PLDT were bought by Oriental and Motolite MarketingCorp. at a higher price.
The proceeds are used to fund the establishment of Learning Resource Centers (LRCs), which take in the form of mini-libraries that include a table, chairs, and a bookshelf filled with books and supplementary instructional materials on Math, Science, English, Filipino, Social Studies, and Environment Education.
Through the donated ULABs, PLDT was able to generate PhP 880,000.00, which can fund the establishment of 22 LRCs in the remote areas of the Visayas--eight in Cebu, six in Bohol, and five in Samar.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
8T kids to benefit from telco's book donation
8T kids to benefit from telco's book donation
The Freeman News
December 16, 2010
In a school nestled within a mountainous barangay where fog already reaches the ground, a little girl dreams.
Ehlna Heroela, 12 years old and a grade six pupil of Gaas Elementary School, longs of becoming an English teacher in her own barangay so they can all speak the language that will grant them jobs and make their futures bright. She also knows that in order to reach this dream, she has to read as many books as she can to be able to speak and teach English fluently.
But books other than the textbooks she is sharing with her classmate are a novelty in Gaas. The books are sold kilometers away from her place. Her family cannot afford the books or the fare to get there.
That was why when Evelyn del Rosario, PLDT Community Relations Senior Manager, ushered her and her classmates in one of the rooms in her school, she never expected to be already stepping inside a mini-library with books she can touch and read, bringing her to a step closer to her dreams.
“Karon pa ko sukad nakakita og ing-ani kadaghan na mga libro para namo. Nalipay mi na naa mi aning mga libroha kay naa na mi mabasa-basa ug daghan na pud mi makat-unan,” she said. (“It was my first time to see those many storybooks for us. We’re happy to have these books we can read and learn from.”)
Like Ehlna Heroela, 8,134 pupils in the Visayas will be able to read more books and learn new things from the additional learning materials given to them by PLDT with the help of Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) through the Motolite-PBSP Balik-Baterya Program.
Launched in 2006, the program aims to achieve two results: protect the environment by properly disposing and recycling used lead acid batteries (ULABs) which may potentially poison the soil; and improve the learning of pupils through the proceeds of the ULABs donated with the provision of books, training of teachers and holding of remedial reading camps.
ULABs donated by PLDT were bought by Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation at a higher price and used to fund the establishment of Learning Resource Centers (LRCs), which take the form of mini-libraries that include a table, several chairs and a bookshelf filled with books and supplementary instructional materials on Math, Science, English, Filipino, Social Studies and Environment Education.
“We at PLDT believe that education is the greatest equalizer. When you are educated, you can go far, you can sit with people and discuss things. You have fed your mind. That is why our heart is close to education, on how to enhance the learning of our children especially in the far-flung areas of the country,” del Rosario stressed.
The latest National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) report states that the Philippines is one of the lowest performing countries in terms of education. This is attributed to the low competencies of schools in improving the learning of their pupils due to the lack of libraries, books and other instructional materials, and training of new skill sets among teachers.
In schools located within remote coastal and mountain barangays, the situation is even worse.
In Pangan-an Elementary School, located in an islet that takes 30 minutes to an hour to get to by pump boat, teachers have a hard time explaining to their pupils what an encyclopedia is because they could not show them an example of it.
“Sometimes we have to wait for months before receiving the textbooks for our pupils. Even if we want to buy more books, we still could not afford them. We rarely receive assistance from other groups because most of them are afraid to cross the seas to get here,” said Marilou Pacilan, prinicipal of Pangan-an Elementary School.
But through the ULABs donated by PLDT, which generated PhP 880,000.00, the company was able to help 22 schools in the remote areas of the Visayas—eight in Cebu, three in Iloilo, six in Bohol and five in Samar.
“Pupils and students from the cities have more access to learning and education. The very reason why PLDT, Motolite and PBSP chose these places is because these are very remote areas and have least access to learning materials,” del Rosario added.
This December, PLDT was able to turn over eight LRCs to schools in Cebu. It is set to turn over the remaining LRCs to the other schools by next year from January to March.
The Freeman News
December 16, 2010
In a school nestled within a mountainous barangay where fog already reaches the ground, a little girl dreams.
Ehlna Heroela, 12 years old and a grade six pupil of Gaas Elementary School, longs of becoming an English teacher in her own barangay so they can all speak the language that will grant them jobs and make their futures bright. She also knows that in order to reach this dream, she has to read as many books as she can to be able to speak and teach English fluently.
But books other than the textbooks she is sharing with her classmate are a novelty in Gaas. The books are sold kilometers away from her place. Her family cannot afford the books or the fare to get there.
That was why when Evelyn del Rosario, PLDT Community Relations Senior Manager, ushered her and her classmates in one of the rooms in her school, she never expected to be already stepping inside a mini-library with books she can touch and read, bringing her to a step closer to her dreams.
“Karon pa ko sukad nakakita og ing-ani kadaghan na mga libro para namo. Nalipay mi na naa mi aning mga libroha kay naa na mi mabasa-basa ug daghan na pud mi makat-unan,” she said. (“It was my first time to see those many storybooks for us. We’re happy to have these books we can read and learn from.”)
Like Ehlna Heroela, 8,134 pupils in the Visayas will be able to read more books and learn new things from the additional learning materials given to them by PLDT with the help of Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) through the Motolite-PBSP Balik-Baterya Program.
Launched in 2006, the program aims to achieve two results: protect the environment by properly disposing and recycling used lead acid batteries (ULABs) which may potentially poison the soil; and improve the learning of pupils through the proceeds of the ULABs donated with the provision of books, training of teachers and holding of remedial reading camps.
ULABs donated by PLDT were bought by Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation at a higher price and used to fund the establishment of Learning Resource Centers (LRCs), which take the form of mini-libraries that include a table, several chairs and a bookshelf filled with books and supplementary instructional materials on Math, Science, English, Filipino, Social Studies and Environment Education.
“We at PLDT believe that education is the greatest equalizer. When you are educated, you can go far, you can sit with people and discuss things. You have fed your mind. That is why our heart is close to education, on how to enhance the learning of our children especially in the far-flung areas of the country,” del Rosario stressed.
The latest National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) report states that the Philippines is one of the lowest performing countries in terms of education. This is attributed to the low competencies of schools in improving the learning of their pupils due to the lack of libraries, books and other instructional materials, and training of new skill sets among teachers.
In schools located within remote coastal and mountain barangays, the situation is even worse.
In Pangan-an Elementary School, located in an islet that takes 30 minutes to an hour to get to by pump boat, teachers have a hard time explaining to their pupils what an encyclopedia is because they could not show them an example of it.
“Sometimes we have to wait for months before receiving the textbooks for our pupils. Even if we want to buy more books, we still could not afford them. We rarely receive assistance from other groups because most of them are afraid to cross the seas to get here,” said Marilou Pacilan, prinicipal of Pangan-an Elementary School.
But through the ULABs donated by PLDT, which generated PhP 880,000.00, the company was able to help 22 schools in the remote areas of the Visayas—eight in Cebu, three in Iloilo, six in Bohol and five in Samar.
“Pupils and students from the cities have more access to learning and education. The very reason why PLDT, Motolite and PBSP chose these places is because these are very remote areas and have least access to learning materials,” del Rosario added.
This December, PLDT was able to turn over eight LRCs to schools in Cebu. It is set to turn over the remaining LRCs to the other schools by next year from January to March.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
A full stomach and a cleaner physique
A full stomach and a cleaner physique
Children from Babag, Lapu-Lapu City
receive Christmas wellness gifts
Children from Babag, Lapu-Lapu City
receive Christmas wellness gifts
Most children from Babag, Lapu-Lapu City have never received a Christmas gift from anyone.
Having been identified by the city government as the barangay with the highest population of malnourished children, Babag presents a landscape of survival and poverty. In this barangay, struggling families have, sadly, become a common occurrence. With their meager income, parents could not afford to give their children their basic needs, let alone a few luxuries—like Christmas gifts.
“Even these children do not have the luxury of drinking milk and juice,” Olive Jabido, PBSP Senior Program Officer for the Visayas said.
Having been identified by the city government as the barangay with the highest population of malnourished children, Babag presents a landscape of survival and poverty. In this barangay, struggling families have, sadly, become a common occurrence. With their meager income, parents could not afford to give their children their basic needs, let alone a few luxuries—like Christmas gifts.
“Even these children do not have the luxury of drinking milk and juice,” Olive Jabido, PBSP Senior Program Officer for the Visayas said.
This was the state Babag was in when PBSP stepped into the barangay on 2007 to assess what it can do to help. Seeing the need of the community, PBSP began organizing activities for the mothers and children.
Now, 60 children received the best Christmas gift anyone could get: a full stomach and a healthy physique. With the Philippine Business for Social Progress, employees of the PAG-IBIG Fund Employees’ Labor Association held a supplemental feeding program for 60 children in Babag.
Since 2007, PBSP has held regular supplemental feeding programs as well as free medical checkups with the mothers to help improve the health of mothers and children in Babag. Through the feeding program, children aged three to eight years old were treated to a hot and healthy breakfast nutritionally prepared by the Garces Royal Gardens, a member company of PBSP.
Belia Ibales, 44 years old, is one of those who have benefited from the feeding program. A mother of seven children, she admits having difficulty in taking proper care of her children. Her husband, who works as a tricycle driver in the area, earns PhP 100.00 a day, which is not enough to prepare three square meals for her big family.
“Malipayon jud mi ani nga programa kay makatabang gyud ni sa akong mga anak nga kulang og timbang," she added. (“We’re grateful for this feeding program which has helped my underweight children.”)
The supplemental feeding program will continue for three months with the participation of other member companies and groups. Aside from the feeding activity, children also received personal hygiene kits to help improve their cleaning habits.
“Since it's the Christmas season, we want the children to avail of gift packs, which are not the ordinary ones that have toys, goodies and candies. These are loot bags without toys but with soaps, towels, toothbrushes and toothpastes—a hygiene kit—since most, if not all, of these children do not have proper sanitation at home,” Jabido said.
Aside from the feeding program, the PAG-IBIG Fund will also grant for the construction of a potable water system worth PhP 65,000.00 for a community in Cebu.
“Since it's the Christmas season, we want the children to avail of gift packs, which are not the ordinary ones that have toys, goodies and candies. These are loot bags without toys but with soaps, towels, toothbrushes and toothpastes—a hygiene kit—since most, if not all, of these children do not have proper sanitation at home,” Jabido said.
Aside from the feeding program, the PAG-IBIG Fund will also grant for the construction of a potable water system worth PhP 65,000.00 for a community in Cebu.
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Balik Baterya beneficiary dreams to become teacher
Balik Baterya beneficiary dreams to become teacher
Cebu Daily News
December 15, 2010
A 12-year-old girl from Balamban town in southwest Cebu dreams of becoming an English teacher someday.
Ehlna Heroela, a grade six pupil of Gaas Elementary School in the mountainous barangay of Balamban, said she wanted to teach English in her own barangay so the students can all speak English, a language that will give them an edge to find employment.
She said she has to read many books to be able to fulfill her dream.
Evelyn del Rosario, community relations senior manager of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), ushered her and her classmates in a mini-library in her school.
“Karon pa ko sukad nakakita og ing-ani kadaghan na mga libro. Nalipay mi nga naa mi aning mga libroha kay naa na mi mabasa-basa ug daghan na pud mi makat-unan (This is my first time to see these many storybooks. We’re happy to have these books that we can read and learn from),” Heroela said.
Heroela is among the 8,134 pupils in the Visayas who will benefit from the books and additional learning materials given to them by PLDT with the help of Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) through the Motolite-PBSP Balik-Baterya Program.
The used lead acid batteries (ULABs) donated by PLDT were bought by Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation at a higher price and the proceeds were used to fund the establishment of learning resource centers (LRCs), which take the form of mini-libraries that include a table, chairs and a bookshelf filled with books and supplementary instructional materials on math, science, English, Filipino, social studies and environment education.
“We at PLDT believe that education is the greatest equalizer. When you are educated, you can go far, sit with people and discuss things. That is why our heart is close to education, enhancing the learning of the children, especially those in the far-flung areas of the country,” del Rosario said.
In Pangan-an Elementary School in an island barangay of Pangan-an in Lapu-Lapu City, teachers have a hard time explaining to their pupils what an encyclopedia is.
“Sometimes we have to wait for months before receiving the textbooks for our pupils. Even if we want to buy more books, we still could not afford them. We rarely receive assistance from other groups because most of them are afraid to cross the seas to get here,” said Marilou Pacilan, prinicipal of Pangan-an Elementary School.
But through the ULABs donated by PLDT, which generated P880,000, the company was able to help 22 schools in the remote areas of the Visayas — eight in Cebu, three in Iloilo, six in Bohol and five in Samar.
This December, PLDT turned over eight LRCs to schools in Cebu. It is set to turn over the remaining LRCs to the other schools in Iloilo, Bohol and Samar next year from January to March.
“We know that these learning materials will enhance the learning of our children. We will make sure that these books will be put into use,” Gaas Elementary School principal Vivian Restauro said.
PBSP hopes that LRCs will lessen the number of dropouts in schools.
“We will carry the goodness of PLDT, Motolite and PBSP and we hope that the corporate social responsibility imbibed by these groups will inspire other corporations to do the same to benefit more schools,” said Aliena Quimque, principal of Cabancalan I Elementary School.
Launched in 2006, the program aims to protect the environment through proper disposal and recycling of ULABs as well as improve the learning of pupils.
“What makes this project special is that the funds used for the LRCs are not taken from the income of the companies, but from used batteries donated by companies, which are then bought by Motolite for proper disposal and recycle,” PBSP Senior Program Manager Olive Jabido said.
Cebu Daily News
December 15, 2010
A 12-year-old girl from Balamban town in southwest Cebu dreams of becoming an English teacher someday.
Ehlna Heroela, a grade six pupil of Gaas Elementary School in the mountainous barangay of Balamban, said she wanted to teach English in her own barangay so the students can all speak English, a language that will give them an edge to find employment.
She said she has to read many books to be able to fulfill her dream.
Evelyn del Rosario, community relations senior manager of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), ushered her and her classmates in a mini-library in her school.
“Karon pa ko sukad nakakita og ing-ani kadaghan na mga libro. Nalipay mi nga naa mi aning mga libroha kay naa na mi mabasa-basa ug daghan na pud mi makat-unan (This is my first time to see these many storybooks. We’re happy to have these books that we can read and learn from),” Heroela said.
Heroela is among the 8,134 pupils in the Visayas who will benefit from the books and additional learning materials given to them by PLDT with the help of Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) through the Motolite-PBSP Balik-Baterya Program.
The used lead acid batteries (ULABs) donated by PLDT were bought by Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation at a higher price and the proceeds were used to fund the establishment of learning resource centers (LRCs), which take the form of mini-libraries that include a table, chairs and a bookshelf filled with books and supplementary instructional materials on math, science, English, Filipino, social studies and environment education.
“We at PLDT believe that education is the greatest equalizer. When you are educated, you can go far, sit with people and discuss things. That is why our heart is close to education, enhancing the learning of the children, especially those in the far-flung areas of the country,” del Rosario said.
In Pangan-an Elementary School in an island barangay of Pangan-an in Lapu-Lapu City, teachers have a hard time explaining to their pupils what an encyclopedia is.
“Sometimes we have to wait for months before receiving the textbooks for our pupils. Even if we want to buy more books, we still could not afford them. We rarely receive assistance from other groups because most of them are afraid to cross the seas to get here,” said Marilou Pacilan, prinicipal of Pangan-an Elementary School.
But through the ULABs donated by PLDT, which generated P880,000, the company was able to help 22 schools in the remote areas of the Visayas — eight in Cebu, three in Iloilo, six in Bohol and five in Samar.
This December, PLDT turned over eight LRCs to schools in Cebu. It is set to turn over the remaining LRCs to the other schools in Iloilo, Bohol and Samar next year from January to March.
“We know that these learning materials will enhance the learning of our children. We will make sure that these books will be put into use,” Gaas Elementary School principal Vivian Restauro said.
PBSP hopes that LRCs will lessen the number of dropouts in schools.
“We will carry the goodness of PLDT, Motolite and PBSP and we hope that the corporate social responsibility imbibed by these groups will inspire other corporations to do the same to benefit more schools,” said Aliena Quimque, principal of Cabancalan I Elementary School.
Launched in 2006, the program aims to protect the environment through proper disposal and recycling of ULABs as well as improve the learning of pupils.
“What makes this project special is that the funds used for the LRCs are not taken from the income of the companies, but from used batteries donated by companies, which are then bought by Motolite for proper disposal and recycle,” PBSP Senior Program Manager Olive Jabido said.
Friday, December 10, 2010
More books beyond the mountains and seas
More books beyond the mountains and seas
PLDT turns over 2860 books to 8134 pupils
through the Motolite-PBSP Balik-Baterya Program
Ehlna Heroela, 12 years old and a grade six pupil of Gaas Elementary School, longs of becoming an English teacher in her own barangay so they can all speak the language that will grant them jobs and make their futures bright. She also knows that in order to reach this dream, she has to read as many books as she can to be able to speak and teach English fluently.
But books other than the textbooks she is sharing with her classmate are a novelty in Gaas. The books are sold kilometers away from her place. Her family cannot afford the books or the fare to get there.
That was why when Evelyn del Rosario, PLDT Community Relations Senior Manager, ushered her and her classmates in one of the rooms in her school, she never expected to be already stepping inside a mini-library with books she can touch and read, bringing her to a step closer to her dreams.
“Karon pa ko sukad nakakita og ing-ani kadaghan na mga libro para namo. Nalipay mi na naa mi aning mga libroha kay naa na mi mabasa-basa ug daghan na pud mi makat-unan,” she said. (“It was my first time to see those many storybooks for us. We’re happy to have these books we can read and learn from.”)
Like Ehlna Heroela, 8,134 pupils in the Visayas will be able to read more books and learn new things from the additional learning materials given to them by PLDT with the help of Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) through the Motolite-PBSP Balik-Baterya Program.
Launched in 2006, the program aims to achieve two results: protect the environment by properly disposing and recycling of used lead acid batteries (ULABs) which may potentially poison the soil; and improve the learning of pupils through the proceeds of the ULABs donated with the provision of books, training of teachers and holding of remedial reading camps.
ULABs donated by PLDT were bought by Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation at a higher price and used to fund the establishment of Learning Resource Centers (LRCs), which take the form of mini-libraries that include a table, several chairs and a bookshelf filled with books and supplementary instructional materials on Math, Science, English, Filipino, Social Studies and Environment Education.
Each Learning Resource Center is worth PhP 40,000.00, which needed approximately 170 ULABs to generate such amount.
“We at PLDT believe that education is the greatest equalizer. When you are educated, you can go far, you can sit with people and discuss things. You have fed your mind. That is why our heart is close to education, on how to enhance the learning of our children especially in the far-flung areas of the country,” del Rosario stressed.
Bridging gaps made by the education low. The latest National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) report states that the Philippines is one of the lowest performing countries in terms of education. This is attributed to the low competencies of schools in improving the learning of their children due to the lack of libraries, books and other instructional materials, and training of new skill sets among teachers.
In schools located within remote coastal and mountain barangays, the situation is even worse.
In Pangan-an Elementary School, located in an islet that takes 30 minutes to an hour to get to by pump boat, teachers have a hard time explaining to their pupils what an encyclopedia is because they could not show them an example of it.
“Sometimes we have to wait for months before receiving the textbooks for our pupils. Even if we want to buy more books, we still could not afford them. We rarely receive assistance from other groups because most of them are afraid to cross the seas to get here,” said Marilou Pacilan, principal of Pangan-an Elementary School.
But through the ULABs donated by PLDT, which generated PhP 880,000.00, the company was able to help 22 schools in the remote areas of the Visayas—eight in Cebu, three in Iloilo, six in Bohol and five in Samar.
“Pupils and students from the cities have more access to learning and education. The very reason why PLDT, Motolite and PBSP chose these places is because these are very remote areas and have least access to learning materials,” del Rosario added.
This December, PLDT was able to turn over eight LRCs to schools in Cebu. It is set to turn over the remaining LRCs to the other schools by next year from January to March.
“With these materials, we know that they will enhance the learning skills of our children. We will make sure that these books will really be used by children and not just get stored in any space,” Gaas Elementary School principal Vivian Restauro said.
PBSP hopes that by making use of the LRCs, the schools will have a lesser number dropouts and enhance their learning competencies as expressed in their mean percentage scores.
“With this partnership, we will be able to fire the children up to learn more, to learn better and to soar to greater heights in education,” del Rosario added.
Corporate social responsibility. For PLDT, the Motolite-PBSP Balik-Baterya Program is not just another education initiative—it is the company's commitment to provide more sustainable projects as its expression of corporate social responsibility.
“We will carry the goodness of PLDT, Motolite and PBSP and we hope that other corporations will do the same. We only hope that the corporate social responsibility imbibed by these groups will inspire other corporations so more schools will also benefit from this kind of commitment,” said Aliena Quimque, principal of Cabancalan I Elementary School.
“What makes this project special is that the funds used for the LRCs do not come from fresh monies—they do not directly come from the income of the companies. These funds all came from the used batteries donated by companies, which are then bought by Motolite so they would be properly disposed and recycled,” PBSP Senior Program Manager Olive Jabido stated.
PLDT makes sure that in the following years more ULABs will be donated for the Balik-Baterya Program so that more children, even separated by mountains and seas, can freely dream their dreams.
PLDT turns over 2860 books to 8134 pupils
through the Motolite-PBSP Balik-Baterya Program
In a school nestled within a mountainous barangay where fog already reaches the ground, a little girl dreams.
Ehlna Heroela, 12 years old and a grade six pupil of Gaas Elementary School, longs of becoming an English teacher in her own barangay so they can all speak the language that will grant them jobs and make their futures bright. She also knows that in order to reach this dream, she has to read as many books as she can to be able to speak and teach English fluently. But books other than the textbooks she is sharing with her classmate are a novelty in Gaas. The books are sold kilometers away from her place. Her family cannot afford the books or the fare to get there.
That was why when Evelyn del Rosario, PLDT Community Relations Senior Manager, ushered her and her classmates in one of the rooms in her school, she never expected to be already stepping inside a mini-library with books she can touch and read, bringing her to a step closer to her dreams.
“Karon pa ko sukad nakakita og ing-ani kadaghan na mga libro para namo. Nalipay mi na naa mi aning mga libroha kay naa na mi mabasa-basa ug daghan na pud mi makat-unan,” she said. (“It was my first time to see those many storybooks for us. We’re happy to have these books we can read and learn from.”)
Like Ehlna Heroela, 8,134 pupils in the Visayas will be able to read more books and learn new things from the additional learning materials given to them by PLDT with the help of Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) through the Motolite-PBSP Balik-Baterya Program.
Launched in 2006, the program aims to achieve two results: protect the environment by properly disposing and recycling of used lead acid batteries (ULABs) which may potentially poison the soil; and improve the learning of pupils through the proceeds of the ULABs donated with the provision of books, training of teachers and holding of remedial reading camps.ULABs donated by PLDT were bought by Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation at a higher price and used to fund the establishment of Learning Resource Centers (LRCs), which take the form of mini-libraries that include a table, several chairs and a bookshelf filled with books and supplementary instructional materials on Math, Science, English, Filipino, Social Studies and Environment Education.
Each Learning Resource Center is worth PhP 40,000.00, which needed approximately 170 ULABs to generate such amount.
“We at PLDT believe that education is the greatest equalizer. When you are educated, you can go far, you can sit with people and discuss things. You have fed your mind. That is why our heart is close to education, on how to enhance the learning of our children especially in the far-flung areas of the country,” del Rosario stressed.
Bridging gaps made by the education low. The latest National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) report states that the Philippines is one of the lowest performing countries in terms of education. This is attributed to the low competencies of schools in improving the learning of their children due to the lack of libraries, books and other instructional materials, and training of new skill sets among teachers.
In schools located within remote coastal and mountain barangays, the situation is even worse.
In Pangan-an Elementary School, located in an islet that takes 30 minutes to an hour to get to by pump boat, teachers have a hard time explaining to their pupils what an encyclopedia is because they could not show them an example of it.
“Sometimes we have to wait for months before receiving the textbooks for our pupils. Even if we want to buy more books, we still could not afford them. We rarely receive assistance from other groups because most of them are afraid to cross the seas to get here,” said Marilou Pacilan, principal of Pangan-an Elementary School.
But through the ULABs donated by PLDT, which generated PhP 880,000.00, the company was able to help 22 schools in the remote areas of the Visayas—eight in Cebu, three in Iloilo, six in Bohol and five in Samar.“Pupils and students from the cities have more access to learning and education. The very reason why PLDT, Motolite and PBSP chose these places is because these are very remote areas and have least access to learning materials,” del Rosario added.
This December, PLDT was able to turn over eight LRCs to schools in Cebu. It is set to turn over the remaining LRCs to the other schools by next year from January to March.
“With these materials, we know that they will enhance the learning skills of our children. We will make sure that these books will really be used by children and not just get stored in any space,” Gaas Elementary School principal Vivian Restauro said.
PBSP hopes that by making use of the LRCs, the schools will have a lesser number dropouts and enhance their learning competencies as expressed in their mean percentage scores.
“With this partnership, we will be able to fire the children up to learn more, to learn better and to soar to greater heights in education,” del Rosario added.
Corporate social responsibility. For PLDT, the Motolite-PBSP Balik-Baterya Program is not just another education initiative—it is the company's commitment to provide more sustainable projects as its expression of corporate social responsibility.
“We will carry the goodness of PLDT, Motolite and PBSP and we hope that other corporations will do the same. We only hope that the corporate social responsibility imbibed by these groups will inspire other corporations so more schools will also benefit from this kind of commitment,” said Aliena Quimque, principal of Cabancalan I Elementary School.
“What makes this project special is that the funds used for the LRCs do not come from fresh monies—they do not directly come from the income of the companies. These funds all came from the used batteries donated by companies, which are then bought by Motolite so they would be properly disposed and recycled,” PBSP Senior Program Manager Olive Jabido stated.
PLDT makes sure that in the following years more ULABs will be donated for the Balik-Baterya Program so that more children, even separated by mountains and seas, can freely dream their dreams.
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