Wednesday, February 28, 2007 Education office receives new school buildings from mall owner
TOGETHER with representatives from SM Prime Holdings and SM Foundation, Inc., Education Undersecretary Teodosio Sangil has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that formalized the donation of P5.25 million for the construction of seven new school buildings in Cagayan de Oro, Pampanga and Quezon, and the renovation of a three-classroom school building in Bulacan.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said "providing adequate school buildings for the growing student population is a challenge that DepEd cannot face alone with its limited resources. We are grateful for SM's contribution of more classrooms for our students."
The beneficiaries of the new school buildings are Mambuaya Elementary School (Cagayan de Oro), Consolacion Elementary School (Cagayan de Oro), San Vicente Elementary School (Pampanga), Pandacaqui Resettlement Elementary School (Pampanga), Padre Burgos Elementary School (Quezon), Dalahican Elementary School (Quezon), and Ransohan Elementary School (Quezon). The renovated school building is for F. Bernardino Memorial Trade School in Marilao, Bulacan.
Construction began in 2006 and was recently completed for turnover to the Department of Education (DepEd).
SM Prime Holdings and SM Foundation have been recognized as partners of DepEd's Adopt-A-School Program, which gives private institutions and individuals the opportunity to participate in the effort to improve the quality of public education in the country.
SM Prime Holdings is responsible for the operation of SM malls throughout the country. A member of the SM Group of Companies, it is owned and chaired by founder Henry Sy. SM Foundation, Inc. is the socio-civic arm of the SM Group of Companies. Their advocacy for education is primarily through scholarship programs and donated infrastructures.
Sangil was joined by Felicidad Sy, who represented SM Prime Holdings; SM Foundation Executive Director Debbie Sy; and SM Foundation executive director for education Linda Atayde. (Press release)
