Tuesday, July 01, 2008 Group calls on members to help RP schools under CSR program
THE Cebu Chamber of Commerce Inc. (CCCI) responded to the Department of Education (DepEd) 7’s call for help by launching a “collective, meaningful and sustainable” corporate social responsibility (CSR) plan for education with its member-companies through DepEd’s Adopt-a-School program.
The two agencies inked a memorandum of agreement last week during the CCCI-Cebu Business Month e-governance and digital marketing conference at the Cebu International Convention Center.
In a report prepared by CCCI CSR committee chairman Virgilio Espeleta and presented by CCCI vice-president for external affairs Clarito Fruelda, the chamber pointed out that “competitiveness is dependent on the talents, skills, continuous upgrading of technologies and management (of) educated people.”
“Sustainable growth in business can be hampered by shortage, mismatch or low-level of qualified graduates versus what the industries and businesses need,” said Fruelda, quoting Espeleta’s report.
But the CCCI lamented over the sad state of the country’s public schools where four students have to share one textbook, 400 schoolchildren line up to use one comfort room with inadequate water supply, and more than 60 students are packed in one classroom. It said the government does not have sufficient funds to improve the quality of public primary and secondary education.
Get involve
Noting that companies are willing to and have been engaged in CSR programs of their own, CCCI urged the private sector to get involved in a “holistic approach” under its Adopt-a-School program.
Adopt-a-School program (ASP) was instituted through the passage of Republic Act 8525, giving private companies the chance to address problems in the public education system, including the lack of classrooms, desks and textbooks.
Apart from generating good will in the community, the CSR program also gives companies the opportunity to obtain tax incentives of up to 150 percent, Fruelda said.
CCCI’s collective CSR program for member-companies suggests that construction and furniture businesses provide for the physical facilities of the school while publication businesses can offer learning support through textbooks. Food, drugs and healthcare companies, on the other hand, can help deal with students’ hunger, health and nutrition, among others.
Member companies can also extend their help to pre-identified “needy” schools in the area or school division they belong.
DepEd 7 identified five schools for adoption in the Cebu City division-Oprra High School, Pasil National High School, Regino Mercado High School, Mangabon Elementary School, and Tabonan Elementary School.
The department also identified five high schools and five elementary schools for adoption in Lapu-Lapu City division, five schools in Cebu Province division, six in Mandaue City, and six in Talisay City.
CCCI plans to develop a marketing campaign for its CSR program for education. The campaign involves writing to target-companies regarding ASP and providing a workshop to educate companies regarding tax incentives they can avail for themselves through it. (NRC)
