Foundations launch school desk project

Foundations launch school desk projectBy Tarra Quismundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
August 23, 2011

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Business for Social Progress and the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation on Tuesday launched a program aimed at filling a shortage of desks in the country’s public schools.

Reviving an advocacy of the late former President Corazon Aquino, the two groups relaunched their School Desk Project, this time tapping the Internet to reach as many donors from around the country and overseas.

Called iGiveBackNow, the project hopes to encourage individuals to contribute what they can toward filling the shortage of desks, currently estimated at five million.

Through the website www.igiveback.pbsp.org.ph, donors may give a one-time donation or regular donations via credit card, PayPal, Globe G-Cash, Cebuana Lhuiller and Western Union.

The project aims to deliver close to 500,000 monoblock desks within two years to some 2,500 public elementary and high schools nationwide, mostly in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.