CentCom, Union Bank fight illiteracy in Region 7

CEBU, Philippines – The Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has partnered with Union Bank for a philanthropic effort of giving free books to public elementary schools in Central Visayas.

An estimated 500,000 books is scheduled to be distributed to grade two students of various public schools in the region this month once the Memorandum of Agree-ment will be finalized between the AFP and the Union Bank.

Marge Barro, Assistant Vice President for Corporate Philanthropic Social Responsibility (CPSR) unit of Union Bank, said that with its resources, Centcom will be most helpful in penetrating remote areas.

Barro said a program orientation workshop will be conducted to about 1,200 participants, including grade two teachers, principals and superintendents just before the distribution.

Asked why the books are for grade two pupils alone, Barro said the level is the right age to teach lessons to children, especially on the areas of value formation and reading skills.

This activity started in 2007 as part of the Union Bank's Learning System. The program is aimed at addressing the problems of illiteracy and aliteracy by integrating values education.

Barro said moral compass and wisdom are needed as a way of life to become "good and capable citizens."

The Union Bank Learning System is in compliance with the learning competencies and budget of work requirements defined in the Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda (BESRA) of the Department of Education (DepEd).

From its initial launch in 2007 in all 512 public elementary schools in all 14 school divisions of the National Capital Region (NCR), the Union Bank Learning System now covers around 3,000 public elementary schools nationwide, benefiting over 870,000 elementary public school pupils and over 11,000 public school teachers and school officials.

In the Visayas, in partnership with DepEd Regional Director Recaredo Borgonia, the Union Bank Learning System was implemented in five school divisions in Metro Cebu since 2008.   (FREEMAN)