DepEd to give free school supplies to indigent students

CEBU, Philippines - With money earned from the “Fun Run” held Sunday in celebration of national hero Jose Rizal’s 150th birthday, Mandaue City School Division Superintendent Virginia Zapanta said all indigent students in all public elementary and high schools in the city will get school supplies for free from the department of Education.

The “fun run” attracted 26 public elementary, 20 high schools, including four private schools namely St. Joseph Academy, Mega Elementary School, Ibali Center for Academy, and the UV-Mandaue Academy.

J & V Concept and Events and PTA Federation helped organize the 1-km and 2-km runs.

From the P150 paid for a “singlet” by every participating student and teachers, P10 went to the fund for the purchase of school supplies.

Dr. Geronima Acot, coordinator of the activity, said some city officials donated cash and school supplies but considering the huge number of indigent students in the city, these were not enough.

‘This is our way of promoting the advocacy for education and helping the Filipinos gain access to education,” Acot said.

Acot said every school is now in the process of identifying the poorest among the poor students as recipients of school supplies.

Highlighting the sports activity last Sunday was the slogan contest which was won by St. Joseph Academy, “Run for Education, Save All the Generations” followed by Paknaan Elementary School and Labogon National High School.

Other awardees during the program were the secondary district as biggest delegation, north district as most colorful, and west district as most lively delegation. – THE FREEMAN