Veco, AGAPP give kinder buildings to two schools

CEBU, Philippines - Two schools in Cebu Province became beneficiaries of the “Silid Pangarap” of the Visayan Electric Company’s Aboitiz Foundation and the Aklat, Gabay, Aruga tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa foundation (AGAPP).

The Tayud Elementary School, in Barangay Tayud, Liloan town, and the Cepoc Elementary School in Barangay Tinaan, Naga City, each received kindergarten school buildings.

Last October 14, VECO turned over a school building for Tayud, the second of four kindergarten school buildings it has committed to AGAPP for this year and next.

AGAPP is a foundation established by Pinky Aquino Abellada, President Noynoy Aquino’s sister, to promote early childhood care and development programs that support literacy development through a preschool program for five-year-old children.

AGAPP’s efforts, in partnership with the Department of Education, is to ensure the readiness of incoming Grade 1 students through a partnership called the “Silid Pangarap.”

Also last October 10, VECO likewise turned over a two-classroom kindergarten school building to AGAPP in Cepoc Elementary School.

During the turnover, DepEd Cebu Schools Division Supt. Arden Monisit recognized VECO for being an outstanding education stakeholder.

“We are not alone in this endeavor because generous education stakeholders like AGAPP and VECO are constantly providing us better education. With their help, the realization of such goals is not impossible,” he said.

Monisit said Cebu still faces a shortage of classrooms but is confident DepEd can surpass the problem.

VECO Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Mia Carmela Cuenco said the kindergarten school buildings are a testament to VECO’s commitment to its stakeholders.

“The silid pangarap is a concrete metaphor that VECO and Aboitiz foundation have partnered together to build your children’s dream for a better future,” Cuenco said.

The classrooms are colored red, green and yellow, which is a signature color of AGAPP. The mixture of each color is said to help increase the children’s interest to go to school.

VECO has donated nine school buildings and 26 classrooms to various public schools in its franchise area since the start of its Corporate Social Responsibility projects in education. — (FREEMAN)