3 Schools Get Help from EPSON
Epson Precision (Philippines) Inc. (EPPD) in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and the Department of Education, Culture andSports (DECS) donated 405 schooldesks to three public schools in Lipa City Batangas: Inosluban Marawoy National High School, Pinagtungulan National High School, and Pinagkawitan National High School. Epson’s gift was in support of the President Corazon Aquino School Desk Project, which was founded in 2002. EPPI President Kazuyuki Amano, General Manager Takeshi Horiuchi, and Environment Manager Joyce Tan led the turnover ceremony, which was held at theLipa City Division Office last July. Victoria Eliza “Viel” Aquino Dee, sister of President Benigno AquinoIII, graced the ceremony. “Youth and Education are among the main advocacies of Epson Precision (Philippines) Inc. In the past, we have supported 12 elementary schools through book donation. This time, we wanted to ensure that sufficient school desks and chairs are provided to a growing population of students in public schools of the communities we serve,” said Tan. In Lipa City alone, the backlog for school desks is around 2,417 units due to an unexpected 35% rise in the student enrollment rate for school year 2013. Epson was the first company to respond to this need. Amano stated that, “all CSR projects of Epson became possible through the help of EPPI employees. By properly segregating the waste coming from production and its process, the waste becomes valuable, which in turn generates (monetary) income to the company. Through this, activities such as textbook donation, tree planting for teens, and so on were made possible. “Aquino Dee expressed her delight that, “Education is supported. Despite how much education isvalued in the Philippines, the nationwide ratio of education is low.For every 10 children who finishgrade school, only six will continueto secondary school, and ultimately,only one will go to university.
Published in Manila Bulletin, page D4, 2 September 2013