SM Foundation turns over new building in Tagbilaran City

CEBU, Philippines — The SM Foundation and SM Prime recently turned over a newly constructed school building to Booy South Elementary School, Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

The recent project is a step towards fulfilling the mission of the late SM Group founder, Henry Sy, Sr. to uplift communities through education.

The 110th school building of SM donated by SM Prime through SM Foundation features modern amenities designed to create an optimal teaching and learning environment for both students and teachers.

The fully-furnished two-story, four-classroom school building is equipped with curved panoramic whiteboards, wall fans, wall clocks, and proper sanitation facilities, including flush toilets with wash basins. Each of the classrooms have 50 armchairs, including specially designed left-handed chairs to accommodate the students' needs.

Ensuring the needs of the learning community are met, SM Foundation incorporated dedicated spaces such as a clinic, teachers room, and mini-library. A handwashing facility with ten faucets promote proper hygiene practices among students. Storage rooms were built to provide a space where educational materials and equipment can be organized.

SM Foundation installs a handwashing facility with ten faucets to promote proper hygiene practices among students. Ensuring the learning community’s needs are met, the foundation also incorporates dedicated spaces such as a clinic, teachers room, and prayer room.

Safety features include emergency lights in its two staircases, a fire alarm bell system, and PWD ramps, ensuring a secure environment for all occupants. The building's design prioritizes accessibility, with a PWD-friendly toilet at the ground floor.

Complementing these efforts, Mastercard Philippines, a social good partner of the foundation, donated three laptops to enhance digital learning capabilities in the school.

SM Foundation’s school building team, project manager Gregorio Baclea-an and school building head Juris Soliman, turn over the laptops from Mastercard Philippines. The devices will help boost the school’s digital learning capabilities.

This project is part of SM Foundation's School Building Program, an ongoing initiative to help ease the classroom shortage in public schools across the Philippines. Working closely with the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Adopt-A-School Program, the foundation identifies areas with critical needs and constructs facilities that meet national educational standards.

To learn more about the SM Foundation School Building Program, visit www.sm-foundation.org/

Representatives from SM Group, local government of Tagbilaran City, Department of Education, and Booy South community during the official turnover of the Booy South Elementary School.