THE UNIVERSITY of the Cordilleras and the Children International Philippines Incorporated (CIPI) donated around P5.2 million worth of books to 31 public elementary and high schools in Kapangan, Benguet.
UC’s community arm Project HELEN led by VP for administration Leonarda Aguinalde with the help of Kapangan through Mayor Manny Fermin, turned over 13,156 books to the school heads and teachers of 27 elementary schools and four high schools at the Kapangan Municipal Hall on May 30.
The lot consisted of assorted textbooks and workbooks covering an array of subjects such as english, mathematics, science, history, and geography, and a selection of novels and storybooks.
These books were imported from the CIPI, a non-profit, humanitarian organization dedicated to alleviating the burdens and effects of poverty on Filipino children.
Citing the lack of reference materials intended for the K to 12 Program, Kapangan Public Schools District supervisor Aladin Dobinto said these books will greatly help the teachers for the benefit of their students especially with Kapangan expecting around 2,500 elementary pupils and 1,000 high school students in the public schools this year.
“Teachers need to contextualize learning resources and these books are what they are looking for. These are good references for teachers especially in the K to 12 Program,” Dobinto said.
Rizalyn Guznian, chief education supervisor of the Curriculum Implementation Division of the Department of Education Benguet, said these books came right in time for the opening of classes where teachers are seen further preparing for their lessons.
Guznian inspected the contents of the books and found they are appropriate and relevant to the levels they are intended for especially with the introduction of a new curriculum.
“Many teachers really need these materials not just to update themselves with the new curriculum but also to guide the holistic development of the child,” Guznian stated.
Aguinalde underscored the importance of reading as a form of personal development.
“People who are learning and growing every day through reading are more optimistic and enthusiastic,” Aguinalde said.
Aguinalde shared in the next months, Itogon and Pangasinan are also set to receive books.
The book donation in Kapangan marks the 28th wave of learning resource materials turnovers spearheaded by UC and CIPI since 2010.
UC and CIPI have since donated more than half a million books to 1,132 elementary and high schools all over the Cordillera Region and Northern Luzon.