Aboitiz, AGAPP turn over 26 day care centers

CEBU, Philippines - A total of 26 day care centers were formally turned over to local school officials in Cebu yesterday by the Aboitiz Foundation and the Aklat, Gabay, Aruga Tungo sa Pag-Angat at Pag-Asa Foundation (AGAPP) as part of their program in providing pre-school classrooms for public schools all over the country.

The Aboitiz Foundation led by their president Jon Ramon Aboitiz committed to construct 45 buildings all over the country while AGAPP headed by Aurora Corazon “Pinky” Aquino-Abellada will provide age-appropriate instructional materials and training for teachers.

Of the 26 buildings, 12 were turned over to Cebu school officials particularly school principals from Bangcasan Elementary School in San Remegio, Opao Elementary School in Mandaue City, Gabi Elementary School in Cordova, Agus Elementary School in Lapu-Lapu City, Abucayan Elementary School in Ba-lamban, San Isidro Elementary School in Talisay City, Cepoc Elementary School in Naga City, Tayud Elementary School in Liloan, and Bonbon Elementary School, Guadalupe Elementary School and Guba Elementary School in Cebu City.

The AGAPP foundation focused on pre-school because of its benefits in enhancing the quality of education and in cutting drop-out rates.

The structures, which are modelled after the AGAPP’s “Silid Pangarap” project, involves building one-storey, two-room school-library facilities in depressed and disadvantaged communities. One room is for holding classes while the other room may be used as a library.

The partnership is also in line with DepEd’s K to 12 program which requires universal kindergarten education for all Filipino children. The program is set to add two more years to the current 10-year basic education curriculum. —(FREEMAN)