Four-classroom building to be erected in Tando, Guimaras
As the oil retrieval from the sunken MT Solar I in Guimaras strait starts, Petron embarks on another long term rehabilitation of the said province through the construction of a four-classroom building in Barangay Tando, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.
The groundbreaking of the said structure is set on March 15, 2007 in the said barangay to be graced by various local, national government officials, Petron and other sectors, said Ms,Marilou G. Erni, Petron Foundation Executive Director.
Erni said that the four-classroom building will be equipped with facilities and basic amenities. Each classroom can accommodate fifty (50) grade school children, Erni told PIA in an interview. She said that the edifice is scheduled to be completed before the start of the classes in June this year.
Petron started putting up the Petron schools in 2002 to support the Department of Educations?s Adopt-A-School program. This is in partnership also with the Philippine Business for Social Progress. In 2005, Petron joined the Education and Livelihood Skills Alliance or ELSA, a coalition of five Philippine organizations working with the United States Agency for International Development/Philippines to undertake a three-year initive for the benefit of the youth in Mindanao. This partnership allowed the building of more Petron Schools in Southern region?s conflict areas.
Since 2002, a total of 2003 Petron schools have been built to complement existing public elementary schools in Misamis Oriental, Davao City, Basilan, Zamboanga City, Sarangani, Mandaue City, Bataan, Jimenez, Iligan City, Nasipit, Sultan sa Barongis an Datu Paglas in Maguindanao and Tawi-tawi. A total of eight (8) Petron Schools are expected to be completed in 2007, mostly in the ARMM-Tawi-tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula, Lanao del Norte, Cotabato City, North Cotabato and Sarangani.
(T.Villavert/PIA)