Better education for a better community

MANILA, Philippines - Massive poverty remains a primary concern in the Philippines where more than 23 million Filipinos are still living below the poverty line. Because of poverty, many children do not even have the chance of getting into school. Some children even have to work at an early age to eke out a meager income to help in their family’s needs.

While the government is doing its part in providing free elementary and secondary education, other costs such as school supplies, food and transportation allowances, uniforms and projects bore a heavy load on impoverished families whose main concern is to at least eat a decent meal three times a day.

As a good corporate citizen, oil player Flying V has expanded its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program through its foundation, the Academe Foundation Inc. which provides scholarship grants to poor but deserving students.

Since its inception in 1999, the Academe Foundation has granted more than 1,200 scholarships to underprivileged children nationwide from grade school to college.

Aside from its scholarship program, the Academe Foundation operates five learning centers nationwide that provide free values formation classes to indigent children between three and six years old. These Learning Centers has benefitted 871 children and is operating at five locations, namely: Taal, Batangas; Barangays Poro and Canaoay in San Fernando, La Union; Marahan West in Davao City and in Barangay Pinugas in Baras, Rizal.

“Through our learning center program we are able to teach Filipino values to children as young as 2 ½ to six years old. In our learning centers we give indigent children the opportunity to thrive in an environment where learning is fun and exciting. They are also taught essential basic skills to prepare them for formal school,” Natasha Reyes, the foundation’s executive director said.

The learning centers are fully operated by the Academe Foundation. However, the Foundation partners with local government units and the Department of Education to provide the learning structure and ensure a conducive learning environment for the children.

“We do not charge any tuition fees in whatever form or kind and all materials and equipment, including books and school supplies are free,” Reyes said. Through this program, Flying V hope to help these children lead better lives by teaching them not only skills but more importantly, values which will help shape them as responsible adults.

“We will soon be opening our doors in Morong Rizal and in Porac Pampanga. Our Scholarship Program, on the other hand, has benefitted more than 1,000 children nationwide and will be granting an additional 35 scholarships for the coming school year to underprivileged but deserving College students,” Reyes said.

Through the foundation’s scholarship program, qualified youths were taken off the streets into classrooms for a chance at a brighter future. Such an opportunity has been given to the transport sector through scholarship grants and employment opportunities for children of jeepney drivers.

The coverage of the scholarship program include “assistance for tuition, books, school supplies, uniforms, and other allowances which they need to finish tertiary education at a college or university and course of their choice, ” Reyes said.

The application process for the scholarship program begins when a certain group or sector of society has been identified as beneficiaries. The would-be beneficiaries are admitted in the scholarship program based on their scholastic standing and their family‘s financial condition.

Zeny Maranan, president of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines Inc. (FEDJODAP), said that through Flying V’s Academe Foundation, jeepney drivers’ dreams of a better education for their children were fulfilled. “Flying V was the first who made good on its promise to the drivers. The drivers were hesistant to believe it at first but we realized that it was for real and now many want to apply,” Maranan said.

For his part, Boy Vargas, National President of Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Altodap) and of Isang United Transport Koalisyon (1-Utak) said their members will not forget the educational assistance extended by the Foundation. “Flying V even helped the graduates find good jobs within the Flying V Group of Companies,” Vargas said.

Another partner of the foundation in its vision to alleviate poverty is the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston).

Secretary General George San Mateo of Piston and Mar Garvida, president of the Public Transport Workers Foundations said they are very supportive of Flying V’s projects.