200 kinder pupils get new classrooms

A total of 200 kindergarten pupils in the remote barangays of San Fernando, in southern Cebu and Consolacion town in northern Cebu, are now attending classes in newly-built school buildings.

The Visayan Electric Co. (Veco), in partnership with the Aklat, Gabay, Aruga tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP) Foundation, turned over the one-storey, two classroom school buildings to Sangat Elementary School in barangay Sangat, San Fernando town last Aug. 30 and to Garing Elementary School in barangay Garing, Consolacion on Aug. 31.

The first of the two classrooms is intended for classes, while the other for library.

AGAPP chairperson Pinky Aquino-Abellada led the turnover in the two barangays, with Veco officials Ricky Lacson, Mia Carmela Cuenco and Eric Ching.

Sangat Elementary School principal Angelie Guangco thanked Veco, AGAPP and Aboitiz Foundation for their generosity.

“This is the first time that the municipality of San Fernando received a fully furnished and fully equipped kindergarten building. Rest assured, we will  protect the building,” she said.

Mia Carmela Magsaysay Cuenco, Veco’s assistant vice president for Human Resources, said the donation of school buildings “affirms our continuous support for the school children in the community where Veco operates. We make sure that the delivery of our corporate social responsibility projects uplifts the lives of stakeholders,” she said.

Meanwhile, Veco’s kindergarten school in Garing Elementary School was described by Pinky Aquino-Abellada as among the best AGAPP school buildings she had seen. She credited Consolacion Mayor Teresita Alegado for landscaping the kindergarten school’s premises.

Aside from school building donations, AGAPP also offers training to teachers with the help of Aboitiz Foundation.

“May other organizations follow Aboitiz Foundation and Veco’s example to help the community,” Abellada said.

Also present during the turnover ceremonies were DepEd Asst. Supt. Rosiller Gelig, Garing Elementary School principal Agnes Dignos and Sangat PTA president Jennifer Llanto.