CTBC Bank (Philippines) Corp., a subsidiary of the largest and most-awarded bank in Taiwan, celebrated 20 years of service in the Philippines, which was highlighted by the bank’s advocacy to promote education.
The bank turned over three disaster-resilient school buildings to its beneficiary schools in typhoon Yolanda-affected areas, raising to a total of 20 the number of beneficiary schools for CTBC’s “Better Readers. Brighter Future.” program and further affirming its commitment to education.
The bank introduced its reading and literacy program as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts in 2011.
In partnership with the National Book Store Foundation Inc. (NBSFI), the bank launched “Better Readers. Brighter Future.” as a mobile library program that promoted literacy and readership awareness among public elementary students.
For six months, the extensive mobile library collection of well-chosen literature toured six schools.
At the end of every mobile library tour, the bank awarded library packages to two deserving beneficiary schools.
With the recent turnover of the three school buildings in Cebu, the bank marked its 20th year in the country with a total of 20 local public schools reached by the program.
While “Better Readers. Brighter Future.” started as a reading and literacy enhancement initiative, the destruction of Yolanda in 2013 moved the bank to extend the program to include the construction of school buildings, specifically in northern Cebu.
The Bank provided a P15 million grant to the Philippine Business for Social Progress to build a one-storey, three-classroom school building at Caduawan Elementary School and Ilihan Integrated School in Tabogon town, and Guadalupe Elementary School in Bogo City.
Representing CTBC Bank at the turnover ceremonies held recently in the schools were Ingrid Militante, first vice president and VisMin Regional Business Center head, and Therese Marin, vice president and Marketing Communications and Services head, who presented the ceremonial keys for each school building.
Militante, in speech after receiving the plaque of appreciation, expressed the bank’s hope for the school to continue encouraging the students to read the books donated by the bank and to take care of the facilities.
Each of the classrooms has comfort rooms (separate for boys and girls) and complete educational supplies, furniture and fixtures.
CTBC Bank at 20 brings to the fore the valuable lessons it has learned through experience in the country, and translated these lessons into solutions that enable its stakeholders, specifically the students and the communities affected, to look forward to better prospects and a brighter future.