THE Aboitiz Foundation, in partnership with the Aklat, Gabay, Aruga tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP) Foundation, turned over 21 kindergarten school buildings to the Department of Education (DepEd) last June 13 at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City.
Aboitiz Foundation President Jon Ramon Aboitiz and AGAPP chairperson Pinky Aquino-Abellada led the turnover ceremony with executives of Aboitiz Group companies, education and local government officials and principals of the beneficiary schools, such as the Inawayan Elementary School, Binugao Central Elementary School and Catalunan Grande Elementary School.
In 2011, the Aboitiz Foundation and the AGAPP Foundation established a partnership and committed to construct 67 school buildings all over the country within three years. As of Sept. 7, 2011, Aboitiz Foundation turned over 26 school buildings. The additional 21 brought to 47 the total number of school buildings turned over to beneficiary schools.
Total project cost of the 47 buildings has amounted to close to P47 million. In 2013, 20 more buildings will be constructed. Some 7,300 pre-schoolers will benefit from the new classrooms.
Modeled after AGAPP’s “Silid Pangarap” project, the one-storey, two-classroom structure has one room intended for classes while the other one serves as a library.