USAID, Petron build new classrooms in Sarangani

MALAPATAN, Sarangani (June 5, 2008) – Education Secretary Jesli Lapus led the groundbreaking ceremony for a two-classroom building in Datu Pangolima Elementary School Wednesday (June 4), a project jointly funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Petron Foundation.

Lapus said his Sarangani visit was his only provincial sortie due to DepED's busy schedule prior to the school year opening.

"Tiyakin po natin na mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang ating mga anak (Let's make sure that we're a giving our children a bright future)," Lapus said.

DepED's campaign is to look for more children and bring them to school.

"Education for all. Education is a basic human right. It is the number one anti-poverty measure," Lapus said.

Despite classroom shortages among schools in Region XII, Lapus said it has increased its achievement test record by 12 percent and 27 percent increase in reading test.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the two-classroom building, with a total cost of P600,000 to be built in 27 days, kicks off USAID and Petron Foundation's four-year support to DepED's rehabilitation and construction of classrooms in Mindanao.

"We see the success of the public and private sectors working together," said Felimon Antiporta, vice president for supply and operations of Petron Corporation.

Petron Foundation, through the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), has built classrooms in Pangyan Elementary School in 2005 and Hadji Muda Elementary School last year in Glan town's remotest barangays through its Adopt-A-School program.

USAID Mission Head Jon Linborg hopes that this partnership will help mold the culture of peace especially in Mindanao.

"I wish to thank everyone for the success of this partnership," Linborg said.

"This will bring hope to our children to go back to school."

"As our business of hope in Mindanao, we envision a future of peace and development in this part of the Philippines," Linborg added.

To attract partners, Governor Migs Dominguez said "all we need to do is to knock on their doors and actively participate in the community to achieve our dream."
USAID's Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS2)-Education and Livelihood Skills Alliance (ELSA) also delivered reading materials in Malapatan Central Elementary School and Datu Pangolima Elementary School through DepED's Brigada Eskwela. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)