Private schools in Yolanda ravaged areas need repairs

MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) says that there are still private schools in the Yolanda areas that still need repairs.

CEAP advocacy and information management officer Anthony Coloma said that while the administrations of the private schools in the areas ravaged by “Yolanda” started holding classes, he said there would still be ongoing repairs in the campuses.

“Our schools in the ‘Yolanda’ hit areas continue to provide education to the same communities and openned in time for the new school year. However, we still need to fix a lot of the damages,” said Coloma.

On their part, CEAP was able to raise nearly P5 million for the affected member schools that were ruined by the strong typhoon, but the amount was not enough to cover the repair cost.

As a result, some of the schools would be holding lessons inside tents.

“Support for the Catholic schools are minimal. The private companies would opt to help the public schools since their donations to them are 150 percent tax deductible,” Coloma added.

Meanwhile, BBFI and CEAP gave financial grant to 27 schools in Eastern Visayas. Above photo shows (from left) Melicia Campo, a teacher at St. Anthony’s Academy Inc., Tacloban; Fr. Marlon Gacho, director of St. Anthony’s Academy Inc and the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) Supt Diocese of Borongan; Brian Belen, president of Bato Balani Foundation Inc (BBFI); and Rhodora Angela Ferrer, CEAP executive director, sign the deed of donation for 27 schools in Eastern Visayas at the Fund Assistance Ceremonial Awarding of Tulong Para sa Bayan at Hotel Alejandro, Tacloban City. A project launched by Bato Balani Foundation, the social development arm of Diwa Learning Systems Inc, Tulong Para sa Bayan, with the support of CEAP, provided financial assistance to help 27 Yolanda-affected schools in Tacloban and Leyte return to full teaching service. To learn more about BBFI and CEAP, visit www.batobalanifoundation.org.ph and www.ceap.org.ph.