Educational partnership through the years

AS PRESIDENTIAL candidates debate on how to uplift the sagging educational conditions of the country, a public-private sector initiative has already taken strides to address the problem—one book at a time.

Now on its 13th year, the SM Foundation Inc. through its Donate-A-Book campaign had collected and would still solicit books and other reading materials from shoppers, schools, publishing companies, and generous business partners nationwide.

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Assistant Vice President of SM Foundation Connie Angeles-Ganuelas said the purpose of the project is to augment the lack of books in day-care centers, public schools, and community libraries, which to her should be given utmost attention.

“These books would be really useful to the students. It will encourage them to read and at the same time help these areas to increase the number of books,” she told reporters at the sidelines of the project launch at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong.

The books will be distributed to thousands of elementary, high school, day care centers, and libraries, nationwide.

“Di kami namimili ng libro na ipinamimigay pero alam ng mga shoppers ang programang ito at merong mga children’s books, merong mga magazines at kung anu-ano pa na pwedeng pakinabangan ng mga mag-aaral,” Ganuelas said.

In 2009 alone, the project collected 172,400 reading and reference materials including sets of encyclopedias and dictionaries from SM mall shoppers, donors, and project partners.

“We ask people to donate new books especially those written by Filipino writers so that we can create a demand for local books. Pero kung wala talagang ganung libro, i-donate natin basta bago,” said Edgar Sabalvoro, executive director of the National Book and Development Board (NBDB)

Apart from books, Ganuelas said cash donations will improve the facilities and educational materials of government-run day care centers.

The project, which started April 22 and run until May 21, is supported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Information Agency, NBDB, Bato Balani Foundation, and Adarna House, Inc. Drop boxes for the donations can be found in all SM Supermalls nationwide. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)