PLDT Turns Over Classrooms in Bicol

“Hangad ko po lamang sa inyo, Maging bantayog ang gusaling puti at pulahan, Sa Mga lugar na lubos na nangangailangan… Salamat, buong puso naming sinasambit…Hinding-hindi ko malilimutan PLDT ay nariyan.”

These are some of the lines of the poem delivered beautifully by visually-impaired Grade 3 student Danica Mae Arias for the guests during the turnover of 2 classrooms for the Special Education (SPED) pupils of Banquerohan Elementary School in Legazpi City.

This is a special classrooms project for PLDT since these will be benefiting at least 70 SPED pupils and teachers who, for the past years, have been utilizing the school’s makeshift structures for their everyday classes.

The turnover was attended by PLDT’s Community Relations Head Ms Evelyn del Rosario, Legazpi City Vice Mayor Vitto Roces, Department of Education – Legazpi City Schools Division Superintendent Dr Cecille Rivera, Motolite’s CSR Officer Ms Connie Deligero and PBSP Luzon Regional Center Manager Kristine Rivadelo.

A day earlier last February 11, another classroom was turned over to Colegio de Sta Rita in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur. This is the 2^nd classroom donated by PLDT to help support the completion of its two-storey 24-classroom building.

Run by the Franciscan Apostolic Sisters led by its school directress, Sr. Irene Anapi, the school caters to students from average to poor households of the different barangays of Del Gallego. PLDT’s support to the school is its response to improve accessibility to quality education through supporting private institutions to absorb pupils and students that could have been additional children for the public school system.

As of February 2016, PLDT has turned over 23 new classrooms that were made possible by its donation to the Motolite-PBSP Balik Baterya Program. PLDT remains the biggest donor of the Program with almost 2 million tons of used lead-acid batteries amounting to PhP 45 M. PLDT’s Balik Baterya projects range from classrooms donation to reading corners and computer laboratories to urban road and drainage projects to reforestation projects in the Marikina Watershed.

PLDT Turns Over 2 Classrooms in Pili, Camarines Sur

Last November 12, PLDT, with its Community Relations Head Ms Evelyn del Rosario, turned over 2 classrooms in Pili West Central School, Camarines Sur.

 Established in 1903, Pili West Central School was the first elementary school in the municipality. The school is composed of 38 regular-permanent teaching personnel serving 1,661 students not only from Barangay San Antonio but also from neighbouring barangays.

The number of classrooms has become inadequate to service the students’ needs and the growing number of enrolees thus PLDT saw the need to respond to this problem.

The construction of the classrooms is made possible by PLDT’s Motolite-PBSP Balik Baterya Program funds. To date, the funds generated by the company’s donated used lead-acid batteries has built and repaired at least 19 classrooms nationwide.

PLDT remains to be the biggest donor of the Program and has turned over for proper recycling almost 1,600 tons amounting to 36 million pesos.

 Present also during the turnover were Pili West Central School Principal Neria Vernejo, Department of Education Camarines Sur Schools Division Superintendent Arnulfo Balane and Hon. Mayor Alexis San Luis.

PLDT Turns Over New Balik Baterya Classrooms in Bicol

Last August 2014, PLDT has turned over 3 classrooms in Bicol as continued support to the call for better access to quality education.

Cogon Elementary School in Irosin, Sorsogon was granted 2 classrooms and Colegio de Sta. Rita in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur was given assistance for 1 classroom of their 24-classroom building.

“In line with our business of bridging people and communities here and abroad, we chose education as a major corporate social responsibility program because we acknowledge that more opportunities can be accessed by children and youth who have completed their basic education. We are happy to share that PLDT is building more classrooms nationwide,” said Ms Evelyn del Rosario, PLDT Community Relations Head.

PLDT has long been supporting the construction of new classrooms to address defective and hazardous environment that impedes learning of pupils. The sad state is that more often, teachers and students make most of the resources available and continue to hold classes in dilapidated structures. With these new classrooms, young people will now have a more conducive environment for learning.

This donation was made possible by PLDT’s funds in the Balik Baterya Program of Motolite and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). To date, PLDT, as the Program’s top donor, has turned over almost 1.5 million kilos of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs) amounting to P27 million pesos. With its ULABs, the company was able to provide 54 Learning Resource Centers or mini-libraries; construct roads, drainage systems and other facilities such as multi-purpose centers; and organize TB prevention programs. Also with the funds, PLDT was able to construct 11 new classrooms and repaired 6 classrooms nationwide.

“Thank you, PLDT, for this significant contribution to both environment and education. Your donation will surely be benefiting many generations to come. Thank you for the partnership as we work together in improving the lives of more Filipinos,” said PBSP Luzon Regional Center Manager, Ms Kristine J. Rivadelo during the turnover ceremonies in Colegio de Sta Rita last August 14.

PLDT Turns Over Classrooms in Northern Samar

Last June 4-5, PLDT turns over 2 classrooms for Palapag I Central School and 1 classroom for the Barobaybay Mission School. Both schools are in Northern Samar.

Representing PLDT is its Community Relations Head, Ms Evelyn del Rosario. Joining Ms Del Rosario is PBSP's Senior Relationship Management Officer Ms. Olive Jabido and Northern Samar Board Member Florencio Batula.

To date, PLDT's funds in the Motolite-PBSP Balik Baterya Program has built 12 classrooms and repaired 6 classrooms nationwide.

PLDT ULABs Bring 6 LRCs in Bohol

From January 12-14, PBSP, Motolite and PLDT representatives turned over 6 learning resource centers in Bohol.

Recipient schools are San Miguel Elementary School, Malitbog ES, Calausan ES, Cambangay ES, Magtangtang ES and Guinobatan ES.

The donation is very much appreciated by the schools whose books are mostly in dismal state (see picture below of available books for the children captured by Mr. Ragaza).

Groundbreaking Ceremonies for BB Projects in Malabon, BB Joins Business Forum

Two projects assisted by PLDT ULABs ---road & drainage and the construction of a multi-purpose building --- were formally introduced to the community and the donors through a groundbreaking ceremony held last Nov 26 in Maysilo, Malabon.

The projects will be benefiting 560 households in the area.

Gracing the event are PLDT Senior Manager for Community Relations Ms Evelyn del Rosario, Motolite CSR Head Eman Ragaza, Malabon Vice Mayor Len Len Oreta and officials and staff of the National Housing Authority and PBSP.

A similar assistance in Brgy. Tugatog was completed recently benefiting 184 households.

Malabon is one of the most heavily-assisted LGUs of PLDT in the Motolite-PBSP Balik Baterya Program. Thus, in a forum organized for business groups in Malabon in December 3, the Program’s Mr. Eman Ragaza was invited to speak on the different projects in Malabon, how the enterprises can contribute to cleaning the environment through proper ULAB disposal and using the funds generated for corporate social responsibility projects.

Below is a copy of an article posted in inquirer.net*. Read on.:)
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PPP projects in PBSP-Malabon forum on corporate citizenship

INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:29:00 12/05/2010

Filed Under: Company Information, Infrastructure, Water Supply, Water Supplies

MANILA — Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) took center stage Friday night as government officials and corporate leaders united to promote social responsibility in a corporate citizenship forum at the City Hall of Malabon.

Last week, PPP efforts were highlighted in the Camanava area as the local government unit of Malabon and the National Housing Authority (NHA) linked with private sector partners in launching a multi-purpose center and turning over drainage system and road projects to residents in the formerly flood-prone Maysilo estate.

Aiming to reduce urban poverty in the area, the local government got a boost from the business sector initiatives of PLDT-Smart, Ramcar-Motolite, and the corporate-led foundation Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), through its Strategic Partnership for Urban Poverty Reduction (STEP-UP) program.

STEP-UP has provided at least P65 million in financial assistance to benefit various projects such as housing, road and drainage systems, electrification and water projects, multi-purpose center construction, livelihood assistance, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) initiatives.

Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT-Smart chairman, who delivered the inspirational message at the Malabon City Hall penthouse on Friday evening as chairman of PBSP Board of Trustees, urged business leaders to be more strategic in their corporate philanthropy. “First, corporations can funnel their contributions to a social intermediary with clear goals. A proven organization and a 40-year track record: that is PBSP.”

Second, he pointed to a “context-focused” model of corporate philanthropy. “Each of your companies must find its own focus, its chosen area of responsibility, (and) that focus or area will be defined by the particular needs and strengths of your communities,” Pangilinan said.

“It is my hope that starting tonight, efforts can be devoted to the matter of corporate citizenship, so that the aspirations of a public-private partnership for the people of Malabon can be realized,” Pangilinan stressed.

He added: “Government alone cannot solve the many, many issues of poverty. The communities must help, the private sector must help. So the business of poverty is also the business of business.”

City Vice Mayor Antolin A. Oreta III delivered the opening remarks and the welcome message for Pangilinan.

“This forum will hopefully strengthen the ties between the LGU and the movers and shakers of the city,” Oreta said, referring to the Malabon forum on corporate citizenship.

Rafael C. Lopa, PBSP executive director, and assistant director Rene Fortuno highlighted PBSP and STEP-UP projects in Malabon with corporate citizenship principles and practices.

Also present at the forum were congresswomen Jay Lacson-Noel representing Malabon and Navotas, and Chona Cruz-Gonzales of CIBAC party-list, as well as city councilors of Malabon.

Emmanuel P. Ragaza, head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Ramcar-Motolite who was also present during the launching of the multi-purpose center project last November 26, reiterated the Motolite battery recycling program to forum participants.
Proceeds of the joint PLDT-Ramcar Balik-Baterya program have built road and drainage systems worth P3.6 million and multi-purpose centers worth P800,000.

For its part, PLDT has initiated gift-in-kind projects amounting to P700,000 in the form of materials for electric posts, fences, and support frames for infrastructure projects.

PLDT also constructed a two-story, six-classroom building with tables and chairs as
well as book cases at Catmon Elementary School worth P4.6 million, plus a separate grant for eight classrooms at Tonsuya Elemenatry School worth P129,000.

Citigroup Bank meanwhile constructed a two-story classroom building for Maysilo Elementary School worth P1 million.

Petron Corp. and SGC Paper have provided scholarships to students at the Malabon National and Tinajeros high schools.

Philcomsat has granted close to P1 million for infra projects to include multi-purpose centers as well as roads and drainages. Boysen Pacific Paint donated products for house repainting on every household facade through employee volunteerism.

CDO through its Odyssey Foundation, a new member company of PBSP, implemented health projects through a supplemental breakfast feeding program in Catmon worth P219,000 for 150 undernourished children.

SM Investments contributed to Malabon STEP-UP daycare, and facilitated teacher training in Early Childhood Education with DSWD through TEACH Foundation.

PBSP has been in Malabon since 2002 through STEP-UP, and is present in 15 urban poor communities reaching to more than 2,323 households and 13,938 individuals.

More than 282 housing units have been built or upgraded worth at least P19.8 million for sustainability, and more than P670,000 in financial assistance provided to support at least 98 small livelihood activities.

On roads and drainage systems, at least 2,264 settlements have undergone construction and upgrading and more than 10,500 linear meters have been constructed benefitting at least 13,584 people.

The settlements were also given P300,000 worth of basic emergency response equipment, including fire extinguishers, drums and metal buckets, fireproof jackets, helmets, and aluminum ladders.

They were also given trainings to formulate community-based disaster response teams to develop site-specific risk reduction plans, including risk-reduction maps, and counter-disaster plans.

*request for reposting had been submitted to inquirer.net last Nov 29

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Groundbreaking Ceremony and Malabon Business Forum Pics

22 LRCs from PLDT/Ramcar, Inc. to Benefit Visayas Public Schools

A portion of the Balik Baterya funds from PLDT used lead-acid batteries will be allocated to establish 22 learning resource centers in the Visayas for the incoming schoolyear. The 22 adopted public elementary schools will come from Western Samar, Bohol, Iloilo and Cebu. The 2008-2009 National Achievement Test mean percentage scores of the chosen schools range from 38%-74%.

The learning resource center package includes various instructional materials, bookshelf and conduct of a teachers training. Establishment of learning resource centers is one of PBSP’s initiatives to improve access to quality basic education. Our interventions are aimed to keep children in school by giving them effective and improved learning environment.

Photo above shows PLDT Community Relations Head Ms. Evelyn del Rosario and Ramcar, Inc. CSR Head Mr. Eman Ragaza turning over the cheque to PBSP Visayas Regional Executive Committee Chairman Mr. Jose Antonio Aboitiz during the celebration of PBSP 22nd Visayas Annual Membership Meeting last March 10, 2010.

To date, 5 Balik Baterya LRCs are in Olango Island and Lapu Lapu City, made possible by the donated ULABs of Lear Corporation. Textbook donations would be very much appreciated by these established LRCs.

EVENTS IN THE LAST MONTHS OF 2009

COMPUTER LAB TURN-OVER and SAMBAL SITE VISIT

PLDT, Ramcar, Inc. and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) recently turned over to Malabon National High School -- Longos Annex a computer laboratory with 20 sets of personal computers. The project, named Paaralang Laan sa Dunong at Talino --- Computer Laboratory Project, was made possible through PLDT’s used lead-acid battery donation to the Motolite-PBSP Balik Baterya Program. Joining PLDT ComRel Head Evelyn del Rosario are PLDT Logistics Operation Division Caesar Sing , Motolite CSR Head Eman Ragaza, Deped Officials and students and teachers of Malabon National Hign School.



“Grateful is an understatement.” This was how the Malabon National High School – Longos Annex OIC Mrs. Lolita Acuña described her sentiments that sunny morning. She has looked forward to the turnover ceremony while the preparations were ongoing. The students are all too thrilled that finally, they would be able to get actual hands-on experience with their new computers. “At flat screen pa!” as some of the students proudly described their new acquisition.

After the morning’s turnover ceremony, the PLDT and RAMCAR representatives visited another project site in Malabon’s Acero Libis Area, where a PBSP community was based.

The Samahang Magkakapit Bisig ng Acero Libis Phase II Homeowners Association was the beneficiary of another Balik Baterya project which entailed the construction of roads and drainage systems in the area.

The project is very much appreciated as this would help the community in flood management. As mentioned by one of the community members who accompanied us in the area tour, “Maraming salamat po talaga. Malaki ang naitulong ng maayos na daan… hindi na putik-putik ang mga tao, lalo na ang mga bata, pag umuulan. Napakalaking tulong at ginhawa talaga.”


ISUZU SIGNS MOU WITH BALIK BATERYA




Isuzu Automotive Dealership, Inc. (IADI) signified its support to the program through an MOU Signing held at their Muntinlupa office. Signing on behalf of IADI are Mr. Alejandro Paguio, Functional Director-Service, Mr. Rene Paningbatan, General Manager and Ms. Monina Macavinta, Auto Central Marketing Services Head.


SMB-DAVAO GIVES BOOKS TO DARONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

San Miguel Brewery-Davao turned over 260 English and Math textbooks to Darong Elementary School in Davao del Sur.

As mentioned by their Principal Mr. Homer Camposo, performance of the school in Math and English is fairly high as reflected in the 2008 National Elementary Achievement Test (NEAT). However, the school’s Mean Percentage Score is still below passing which is 70.5%. Thus, donation of additional textbooks to serve as reference will be very beneficial to both pupils and teachers.

NESTLE LIPA JOINS ROSTER, DONATES ULABS

Another Nestle plant has joined the roster --- Nestle Lipa (where our favorite Milo and cereals are manufactured J).

The Balik Baterya team visited the plant last September 25 and was welcomed by VP and Plant Manager Noel Lonzanida, SHE Head Edwin Ramilo, Industrial Services Section Manager Edwin Erasquin and FAS Coordinator Mary Grace Tan.

Before the year 2009 ended, an initial 1,000 kilos of ULABs were hauled from the plant.

TRANSWORLD TURNS OVER BOOKS TO PAYATAS C ES

Balik Baterya Team with Transworld Brokerage Corporation, represented by its Safety Manager, Mr. Jason Zamora, turned over 54 Math, English and Science Books to Payatas C Elementary School.

Payatas C ES is an earlier recipient of Balik Baterya textbooks from SGV, Mister Donut and Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation. The teachers are very thankful of the additional reference/instructional materials the program has provided. As mentioned in the March 2009 study of the Ateneo Center for Educational Development, provision of additional textbooks is necessary for Payatas C to be alleviated from being one of Quezon City’s “Depressed, Deprived and Underserved” Schools.

Lear Corporation Strengthens Basic Education through Five Learning Resource Centers

Three primary schools in Olango Island and two in Lapu-Lapu City were provided Learning Resource Center (LRC) packages by the Lear Corporation. The three schools in Olango Island were the Candagsao and Talima Elementary schools of Barangay Talima, and the Poo Elementary School. The two schools in Lapu-Lapu City were Basak Elementary School and Pusok Elementary School

During turnover ceremonies in the respective schools on Olango Island on Thursday, September 17, and on Lapu-Lapu City on Friday, September 18, staff and officers from the Lear Corporation led by Ms. Amabel Magnolia Abella, Country Senior HR Manager donated various instructional materials on Math, Science, English, Filipino, and HEKASI or Social Studies, a bookshelf and table and chair set, as well as established arrangements for teacher’s training to be provided to the schools. Also present during the events were Mrs. Vivien Taneo, DepEd District Supervisor of Olango Island, and Dr. Carmelita T. Dulangon, DepEd Superintendent, both from the Division of Lapu-Lapu.

PLDT ARAL TB Reaches 288 PUV Drivers, Trains 42 TB DOTS Educators

PBSP Luzon Regional Operations, with the assistance of the Training and Consulting Unit, had recently completed the implementation of the TB Prevention Program for PUV Drivers in STEP UP Areas. A total of 288 PUV drivers (97 in Caloocan City and 191 in Pasig City) were oriented on tuberculosis.

To complement this, 42 individuals from the STEP UP sites were also trained on TB DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short Course) --- the World Health Organization’s prescribed strategy for ensuring proper diagnosis and cure of TB.

After these individuals were equipped with the information and skills on TB education, they were able to facilitate the conduct of 3 echo seminars in their respective homeowners associations (HOAs).

A monitoring and evaluation meeting after 6 months shall be organized to determine the progress of the project in the adopted areas.

The project was made possible through PLDT’s ULAB donation. All savings incurred shall be allocated to PLDT’s infrastructure projects in the company’s adopted STEP UP site in Malabon.

Balik Baterya Supports TB Peer Educators Training

Last July 17-18, PBSP-Training and Consulting Group conducted a peer educators training for adopted sites in Brgy. Payatas, Quezon City. The training was held in in Loreland Farm Resort, Antipolo.

Fifty-six community members attended the two-day workshop which aims to equip them with the basic information on TB and skills to implement a more responsive TB control and prevention program for hard to reach communities of the barangay.

In 2007, PBSP's TB LINC (Linking Initiatives and Networking to Control Tuberculosis) conducted a survey and one of the priority areas identified is Quezon City. Specifically for Payatas, the barangay has a very low TB case detection rate (40% versus 80% Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) standard) and cure rate (50% versus 85% MDG standard).

The training is funded by PLDT through the Balik Baterya Program. Unilab and Unilever also supported the training through product giveaways.