Lapus acknowledges private sector for helping typhoon-hit schools

Pasig City (21 October) — Department of Education ((DepEd) ) Secretary Jesli Lapus thanks the department’s Adopt-A-School partners from the private sector who have readily expressed interest to help public schools that were hit by Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

“This is bayanihan at work in our education system. What our donors have done is an example of active community participation in education, which will help our schoolchildren and teachers survive this crisis,” said Lapus.

National Bookstore Foundation is currently repacking school supplies that will be distributed among public schoolchildren, while the National Power Corporation (Napocor) pledged to donate materials and contribute manpower to help clean affected public schools.

Amway Philippines will donate cleansers and disinfectants, while public schoolchildren in some affected areas can expect school supplies from the Alfonso Yuchengco Foundation, Jollibee Foundation and UnionBank have also expressed their desire to help affected public schools, and many individuals have donated used books and cash for the victims of the typhoons.

Lapus noted, “The community – including the private sector – is our most important ally in rebuilding our schools. Everybody can do something to help our students and teachers recover from this calamity.”

To effectively align available private sector resources with the needs of typhoon-hit public schools, Lapus ordered the department’s Physical Facilities and Schools Engineering Division and the Adopt-A-School Program to closely monitor affected DepEd divisions and get the specific needs of typhoon-hit public schools.

As he continues to mobilize the department’s employees to fast track the delivery of relief goods to victims of the recent typhoons, Lapus reiterates his call for more support from other private sector companies and individuals who have the capacity to help.

Lapus added, “I continue to call on other stakeholders in the private sector to join the bayanihan that is responding to the needs of our schoolchildren and teachers in affected schools. We at DepEd are tirelessly engaging the community to get everyone involved in bringing the physical condition of our public schools back to normal.”

By virtue of Republic Act 8525 – or the Adopt-A-School Law – the Adopt-A-School Program is a venue where the private sector can help bring the needed resources to public schools. In recognition of their goodwill, donors may avail themselves of 150 percent tax incentive.

More than 400 private sector individuals and companies have helped the department in the delivery of quality educational services to public schoolchildren since Adopt-A-School was relaunched by Lapus in 2006. (DepEd)