Aboitiz supports 26,000 scholars

MANILA, Philippines - More than 26,000 preschool, elementary, high school, college, post-graduate and technical-vocational (tech-voc) students all over the country have benefited from the scholarship program of the Aboitiz Foundation in the last 26 years.

The corporate social development arm of the Aboitiz Group reported this development as well as its other education program milestones at the annual “Interventions in Education” program held at The Tent, Enderun Colleges in Taguig City.

The event marked the renewal of the group’s commitment to education reforms in the country as its business units signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Education (DepEd) for the Adopt-A-School Program.

Aboitiz Foundation chairman Erramon Aboitiz said that in 2014 alone, the foundation supported 3,227 scholarships — 250 preschool, 141 elementary, 1,988 high school, 354 college, 18 post-graduate and 476 tech-voc students.

On top of scholarships and financial assistance, the foundation also donated 970 classrooms in 322 schools, equipped with basic fixtures including desks, blackboards and toilets, benefiting approximately 95,000 students in various parts of the country.

 Other education-related programs include integrated computerization where it donates computers, refurbish computer laboratories and support information technology teachers; book donations and other skills training programs.

“We believe that a good education means building the necessary infrastructure for a conducive learning environment, providing the much-needed tools for students, building competency of teachers and fostering educational opportunities for further growth and development,” Aboitiz noted.

Last year, the foundation embarked on the development of science elementary schools and technical-vocational high schools. The latter allows students to hone critical skills in order to gain immediate and meaningful employment, whether full- or part-time, upon graduation from high school.

Comprising more than 50 percent of its budget, the foundation has allocated a total of P353 million for education-related programs this year, including funds for the Yolanda schools rehabilitation project where 227 classrooms were donated to schools affected by the super typhoon in Bogo and San Remigio towns in northern Cebu.

 Aboitiz Foundation Inc. is the corporate foundation of the Aboitiz Group. Established in 1988, the foundation addresses the social and economic development needs of marginalized members of society. It focuses its corporate social responsibility efforts on education, enterprise development and the environment.