Aboitiz is biggest patron to public educ

The Department of Education (DepEd) has lauded Aboitiz Group for being its biggest contributor and a long-standing partner in the bid to uplift the state of the country’s public education system.

Speaking in front of around 600 participants including 330 Aboitiz scholars and their parents, teachers, principals, and representatives from the education sector, local, and government units  at the ‘Interventions in Education’ held last Friday, July 24 at The Tent in Enderun Colleges in Taguig City, DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said  Aboitiz is one of the first [partners] to show consistency in its commitment to education.

“Aboitiz is a partner in almost anything that the education sector needs. I have never seen an organization extending support from kindergarten all the way to college, and even beyond [graduating] college,” Luistro said, encouraging the scholars to make the most out of this opportunity, study hard, and follow their dreams.

Aboitiz, through its social development arm, Aboitiz Foundation renewed its commitment and formally presented all its educationelated projects, including initiatives from its 27 business units.

Last year, the Group spent P437 million or 72% of its total corporate social responsibility budget allocation – the biggest so far – to help realize its goal of achieving universal public education by establishing “BetterWorld” schools that promise better learning environment.

“Our strong commitment to education resonates in our commitment to help make all Filipino children lifelong learners through our Education for a BetterWorld campaign. We firmly believe that education is where we can make the greatest impact and we continue to advance our efforts to help improve it in our country. Over half of our group-wide CSR budget is allocated for educationelated programs, ” stressed Aboitiz Foundation chairman Erramon Aboitiz.

In partnership with DepEd, the Group continuously intensifies the development of special science elementary schools (SSES) and technical-vocational (TechVoc) high schools, constructs Silid Pangarap kindergarten schools in collaboration with the Aklat, Gabay, Aruga Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP) Foundation, repairs and constructs regular classrooms, facilitates teacher skills trainings, and grants scholarships and financial assistance to deserving students.

Aboitiz congratulated 39 of the company’s college scholars who graduated this year, 23 of whom are with Latin honors. In the last 27 years, more than 27,000 students have benefitted from its scholarship and financial program.

Established in 1988, the Aboitiz Foundation continues to pursue its mission to help people help themselves, implementing corporate social responsibility interventions especially in communities where Aboitiz companies operate. The foundation focuses its efforts on education, enterprise development, and environment but also carries out projects on health and well-being, as well as disaster preparedness and response. (PR)