BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—The Aklat, Gabay at Aruga Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (Agapp), headed by presidential sister Pinky Aquino-Abellada, recently turned over 17 two-classroom kindergarten buildings on Negros Island.
Abellada was accompanied by Education Secretary Armin Luistro on March 13 during the turnover of 11 kindergarten buildings.
Two of the buildings were donated by Coca-Cola Foundation (Sta. Cruz Elementary School in Murcia town and Purita L. Mora ES in Talisay City) and another by Hanston Commercial and Industrial Corp. (La Castellana Elementary School in La Castellana town).
Eight were donated by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). These are in MJ Escalante Elementary School in Cadiz City, Macario Natividad ES in Hinigaran town, Molocaboc Integrated School in Sagay City, Doña Agustina Barrera Elementary School in EB Magalona town, Paaralan ng Alejandro Ombi-on in Cauayan town, Guinpanaan Elementary School in Moises Padilla town, Bocana Elementary School in Ilog town and Daan Banua Elementary School in Kabankalan City.
On March 12, Agapp turned over six kindergarten buildings donated by ADB in Negros Oriental province. These were in the Cabcaban Elementary School in Bindoy town, Ayungon Central School in Ayungon town, Dauin Central School in Dauin town, La Libertad Central Elementary School in La Libertad town, Macario Española Memorial School in Canlaon City and Jimalalud Central Elementary School in Jumalalud town.
Each building consists of two classrooms and one comfort room. They also come with children’s desks and cubbyholes with books. Their teachers are trained before handling their kindergarten classes.
Agapp aims to donate 1,000 kindergarten classrooms to public schools by June 30, 2016, and will have 800 completed by its fourth anniversary in August, Abellada said.
“We are building one classroom every two days,” she said.
The classrooms were built with donations from the private sector. “We are all doing our share to move the country forward,” she said.
Abellada said Agapp was also repairing the classrooms it had donated that were damaged in areas hit by Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”
Her sisters—Viel, Ballsy and Kris—have also been doing their share in helping the typhoon-hit areas, she said, noting that Filipinos from all walks of life have done the same.
“We saw the goodness of the Pinoy,” she said.
She said her brother, President Aquino, has also been working very hard to address the needs of Filipinos hit by various disasters.
The President has said he knew in his heart that he was doing his best, Abellada added.
Luistro said Agapp had helped the Department of Education meet its target to build 66,800 kindergarten classrooms by the end of 2013.
He said that at the start of the Aquino administration, all the classroom gaps were identified and funds were allocated in the national budget to ensure that there would be no shortage.