Mondelez Philippines and PBSP to adopt school in Tacloban
In photo (L-R): Sudip Mall, General Manager, Mondelez Philippines ; Mario Deriquito, Undersecretary, Department of Education ; Rafael Lopa, Executive Director, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).
Mondelez Philippines, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), and the Department of Education (DepEd), signed a memorandum of agreement to adopt Panalaron Central Elementary School in Tacloban, Leyte.
Panalaron Central Elementary School is one of more than 3,000 schools reported by DepEd that were damaged by typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas.
Mondelez Philippines General Manager Sudip Mall shares, “Mondelez Philippines’ mission is to create delicious moments of joy. We plan to do this in Tacloban through our Joy Schools program. More than rebuilding, our Joy Schools program is a 3-year commitment to help promote quality education and nutrition for students. Furthermore, because Tacloban experienced tragedy during Typhoon Yolanda, we would like to extend our adoption to the community by helping sari-sari stores’ livelihood as well.”
Mondelez Philippines, formerly Kraft Foods aims to repair 22 classrooms, construct a new library and a kitchen in Panalaron Elementary School. This, together with a 3-year feeding program that will run through the school year. Teachers of the adopted school will also undergo psychosocial trainings with the aim of helping their students adjust back to normal life after the tragedy. Sustainability initiatives for providing lighting and water for free to the school will also be provided by Mondelez Philippines as part of the program.
“As a food company, nutrition is of great importance to us,” explains Mall. “Through our feeding program, we hope to energize students to come to class and learn. While they are energized, we also want to provide educators with tools to teach effectively.”
The Mondelez Philippines Joy Schools Program began in 2011 with the aim of creating joyful centers of learning and transforming their adopted schools into the Top 10 in their cities. Currently, there are five Joy Schools in Metro Manila with the addition of the 6th one in Tacloban.
Together with PBSP, Joy Schools has reached over 750 students through feeding for the five schools and now aims to reach at 150 more in Tacloban. In totality, Mondelez Philippines was able to reach at least 15,000 students in Luzon and now reaching at least 785 students in the Typhoon Yolanda affected school in Visayas.
The said project is part of PBSP’s Typhoon Rehabilitation Plan for Education, which urges the business sector to respond to the recovery and rehabilitation needs of schools affected by Typhoon Yolanda that will eventually encourage enrolment and sustain the access of children and youth to quality education.
Components of the said project include construction of new classrooms to replace totally damaged classrooms, repair of partially-damaged classrooms, supplemental feeding, provision of students’ starter kits, and replacement of damaged learning facilities and materials.
To know ways on how you can contribute to the recovery and rehabilitation for education in the Visayas, contact the PBSP – Project Management Office for Education at 527-7741 loc 108 or email pbsp@pbsp.org.ph.