AS THE nation prepared to celebrate National Teachers Month, the teachers and students of Itaas Elementary School in Muntinlupa City received late last month a generous donation from Emirates Red Crescent (ERC).
The gift, dubbed as "Dubai School," consists of a four-storey eight-classroom school building, complete with arm chairs for pupils, teachers' tables and chairs and nine comfort rooms.
Five hundred students also received school bags.
Emirates Red Crescent is a volunteer humanitarian organization based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies since 1986.
ERC is focused on 1) educating people in international humanitarian law 2) spreading health awareness and education 3) establishing projects for the good of those in need: orphans, widows, elderly, and special needs 4) rescuing people from the effects of disasters and 5) attracting talents for volunteer work.
In the Philippines, most of its projects are related to education. To date, ERC has constructed or repaired 21 school-buildings enough to accommodate 10,000 students. Other facilities donated by ERC include 15 multi-purpose covered courts, 12 theaters, service and health facilities and computer laboratories.
The Dubai School construction commenced in October 2018 immediately following the signing of a memorandum of agreement between DepEd Muntinlupa represented by Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Mauro C. de Gulan; Raul T. Felix, the school principal and H.E. Hamad Zaed Alzaabi, UAE ambassador to the Philippines.
Funds for the project were donated to ERC by Mr. Ahmed Al Abdullah Al Ansari.
Several dignitaries from the UAE attended the turnover last September 25. They included H.E. Hamoud Abudllah Alawi Mohammed Aljneibi, General Secretary of Marketing and Donation (M&D) of the Emirates Red Crescent; UAE Ambassador, H.E. Hamad Zaed Alzaabi; and Obaid Rahmat Al Baloushi, ERC director of Projects.
The visitors were received by Muntinlupa City officials led by Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi, Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac, city councilors Raul R. Corro and Paty Katy Boncayao. The DepEd family was represented by Dr. Mauro C. De Gulan Schools, division superintendent; principals of different Muntinlupa elementary schools, public schools district supervisors, parents, and students. The office of DepEd Regional Director was represented by Mrs. Victoria Mayo.
Speech Laboratory Project
Earlier this year, Itaas Elementary School (which happens to be my Alma Mater) received an additional 15-seater speech laboratory, courtesy of SM Foundation. The additional facilities complement an earlier donation by alumni and friends of Itaas, led by Class 1956.
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