Building materials companies lent a hand to Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela in a bid to provide Filipino public school students conducive spaces to learn.
CEMEX Holdings Philippines, through its social responsibility arm, CEMEX Philippines Foundation, participated in DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela at public schools of communities where it operates. The company joins the program annually.
“We recognize at CEMEX how education plays a central role in youth development and how it will provide them with greater opportunities in the future. Many of our community and outreach programs are dedicated to promote education for all Filipinos, and the Brigada Eskwela is our small contribution in building a secure and clean place where students can learn and hone their potential,” said Chito Maniago, director for corporate communications and public affairs at CEMEX Philippines and executive director of CEMEX Philippines Foundation, Inc.
In line with this year’s Brigada Eskwela theme, “Pagkakaisa para sa Handa, Ligtas at Matatag na Paaralan tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan,” hundreds of CEMEX Help. Engage. Reach. Out. (H.E.R.O.) employees and community volunteers proactively worked with the government and other stakeholders to help improve learning environments for the students of Tinaan National High School and CEPOC Elementary School in the City of Naga, Cebu and at Marcelino M. Santos National High School in Antipolo City, Rizal.
To kick off the Brigada, Maniago and corporate communications manager Erlinda Lizardo, led the ceremonial turnover of a two-horsepower electric water pump to CEPOC Elementary School to ensure ample water supply for the institution. HR manager Danilo Antonio, community relations officer Marlito Cabigas, Tinaan barangay captain Teodoro Cantal, Tinaan National High School principal Justiniana Lapiz, and CEPOC Elementary School principal Antonio Rimas also graced the event.
CEMEX H.E.R.O. volunteers repainted 10 classrooms at Tinaan National High School, as well as the interiors of the main building and social hall of CEPOC Elementary School. The volunteers also helped in cleaning and preparing the surroundings within both school premises.
In Antipolo City, volunteers repainted 40 classrooms at Marcelino M. Santos National High School.
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More than 400 volunteers from Holcim Philippines, Inc. and its partner organizations nationwide joined the Education department’s Brigada Eskwela.
Volunteers helped 17 public schools catering to 13,500 students in their communities by cleaning, repainting, and repairing classrooms, facilities, and equipment.
A supporter of the DepEd program since 2012, Holcim Philippines also donated new equipment and building materials and conducted disaster preparedness and solid waste management briefings.
“This year is extra special for us given the focus on safety which is our core value at Holcim Philippines. We are glad to share this mindset to our neighbors aside from lending a hand in readying the schools for their children,” said Holcim Philippines president and chief executive John Stull.
In Norzagaray, Bulacan, around 100 employees and contractors participated in cleaning the grounds and classrooms as well as repainting facilities of Sapang Kawayan Elementary School, Padling Elementary School, and North Hill High School.
Over 140 plant employees volunteered to construct hand washing areas, drainages, and concrete pathways in five public schools in Davao City. The company also donated cement to 61 public schools in the region.
In Misamis Oriental, more than 170 employees of its plant and partner organizations helped clean and repaint classrooms and facilities of the Lugait National High School. Volunteers also held a seminar on community disaster preparedness and resiliency in times of calamities.
Holcim’s La Union plant, meanwhile, conducted a safety workshop for a public school in La Union. It also donated art pieces made from wooden pallets. The company’s sites in Mabini, Batangas, and Calumpit, Bulacan also joined the Brigada Eskwela in their areas.
