Leni finds new partners in classroom building project

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo has found new partners from the private sector in providing new classrooms for poor students in far-flung areas. 

The Aklat, Gabay at Aruga Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP) foundation, whose members included graduates from the Ateneo de Manila High School, expressed interest in funding a school building in Punta Tarawal, Calabanga, “the smallest, farthest and poorest barangay” in Camarines Sur. 

“When we featured Punta Tarawal during (my) inauguration, there were private groups who expressed their desire to help,” the Vice President said in an interview in Calabanga yesterday. 

Robredo, who served as representative of Camarines Sur’s third district prior to her election as vice president, accompanied AGAPP members in Punta Tarawal yesterday. 

“They want to see the place and identify their needs,” she said. 

Robredo proposed the construction of a two-story school building, which will also serve as evacuation center during calamities. 

She said AGAPP has also expressed the intention to help the government in providing potable water to the residents. 

Robredo noted that a poor household normally spends P25 a day for five 20-liter containers of water. 

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has allocated P9 million for water facilities for four villages, including Calabanga. 

“They already have P9 million from the DILG, they still need P10 million. Once we raise that amount, they can already have access to potable water here,” Robredo said.

Robredo also said she would work closely with the private sector in pursuing her anti-poverty and pro-women advocacies.

Thailand cites Leni as outstanding woman

Meanwhile, the Thai government cited Robredo as the “Honorary Outstanding Woman in 2016.”   

The 51-year-old Robredo was cited for her “dedication to women in her country to improve women’s rights and gender equality, including overcoming barriers to be a successful ASEAN woman leader.”

Robredo worked with civil society organizations and defended cases of the poor, mostly pro bono. Her work as a lawyer gained her the Most Outstanding Private Prosecutor award from the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption in 2009.

Robredo will receive the award today during the Thai Women’s Day celebration, which will be held in Nonthaburi, Thailand, the Office of the Vice President said.

 The event was organized by the National Council of Women together with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Education.