DOLE turns over more CGMA classrooms

With more donors taking part in the Donate-A-Classroom Program also known as the Classroom Galing sa mga Mamamayang Pilipino Abroad (CGMA) Project, the Department of Labor VI was able to turn over eleven standard two-classroom school buildings to recipient schools in Negros Occidental and Panay during the first half of year 2005.

The funds for the construction of these school buildings measuring seven by seven meters each were donated by: the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters; Sugar Tripartite Council; Association of Marine Officers Seamen Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP); and the community organizations overseas among others.

DOLE VI Director Carlos L. Boteros said that the recipient of the CGMA program funded schools both in the elementary and high schools regionwide are:  Victorias National High School, Victorias City; Educational and Training Center School (ETCS) III in Bacolod City; Serafin Golez Primary School in Silay City; Don Hilarion Gonzaga Memorial High School, Talisay; Pacao Elementary School, Kabankalan City; Negros Occidental High School-Murcia Extension, Murcia; Cansilayan National High School; Murcia and Calamay Elementary School, Ilog, all of Negros Occidental; Jamindan National High School, Jamindan, Capiz; Numancia Integrated School, Numancia, Aklan; and Gen. Julio V. Macuja Central High School, Hamtic, Antique.

This month two more classrooms are set to be turned over to recipient schools in Negros Occidental.

Boteros added that here in Iloilo, the President of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) – Iloilo Chapter has already signed the validation form which signaled the beginning of its partnership with DOLE-6 in the construction of the first classroom in Iloilo province. Just recently, Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas hailed the FFCCCII for its active role in helping to alleviate classroom shortages in the country via this project.

CGMA is a classroom donation campaign initiated and managed by DOLE as part of its Kabayanihan Program in support of PGMA's education agenda, in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs, DepEd and the FFCCCII.

This project intends to build as many classrooms as possible in public elementary and secondary schools nationwide identified by the DepEd as having classroom shortages to democratize access to education among children of school age.

DOLE encourages donors such as, Filipino communities' abroad and private individuals, as well as corporations, foundations and organizations to donate for the construction of additional classrooms particularly in areas identified by the DepEd with critical classroom shortage. (DOLE/PIA)