Basilan kids take up books, not arms

MANILA, Philippines – More than 500 school children and youth in Lamitan, Basilan will continue to receive scholarship packages and books from Philam Foundation under the program called Aid for Basilan Children (ABC) initiated by Philam in 2002 as an offshoot of the Abu Sayaff’s seizure of Lamitan town.

“This is Philam’s seventh year of assistance to Basilan. Part of the funds came from Philam clients who make their donation to ABC,” explained Gil Salazar, executive director of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Philam’s project partner.

“Currently, ABC keeps 535 students in school and helps improve their academic performance. The last batch of 68 elementary pupils graduated last March,” Marylin Muncada, PBSP Mindanao regional operations manager, said.

“The project aims to assist children affected by conflict to pursue basic education as they start building normal lives,” Muncada added.

Committed to poverty reduction, “PBSP’s strategy in Mindanao is to target the poorest area. The problem is deeper in Mindanao because of internal conflict. The work is harder too,” said Salazar. In Lamitan, one in every two persons lives in poverty, a fact that brews unrest and conflict.

“We hope these children will ‘take up books.’ We want to equip poor children with lifelong skills, something that will keep them from the path of violence,” explained Salazar. 

“This year, aside from providing textbooks, school supplies, uniforms, school fees and assistance for school project expenses, ABC also trained teachers in integrating audio-visual materials in classroom instruction,” Muncada said.

“Parents Teachers Community Associations (PTCAs) of the two beneficiary schools, the Lamitan National High School and Lamitan Central Elementary School, will be mobilized to help sustain school improvement activities,” she added.

The project is implemented together with the Missionary Dominican Sisters of the Holy Rosary in Lamitan.

In 2008, PBSP member-companies and partners spent more than P65 million for education in Mindanao. This complemented other poverty reduction efforts of PBSP to provide access to water and health services, provide income, develop enterprises, and make productive use of resources through sustainable development.