The GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) formally inked its partnership with the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) for the Kapuso School Rehabilitation (KSR) project.
In a contract signing held at the GMA Network Complex in Quezon City on February 23, both GMAKF and PCA vowed to continue merging resources, manpower, and competencies for the completion of the school rehabilitation program.
The project, which stemmed from the onslaught caused by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in 2009, provides long-term assistance to hardly hit areas in Central Luzon. An offshoot to the immediate relief assistance delivered via the Operation Bayanihan project, the KSR envisions to sustain GMAKF's relief support through the building of conducive classrooms for elementary students from select public schools.
The KSR project will benefit 85 classrooms in 20 schools in Luzon, including Rizal, Ilocos, Pangasinan, La Union, and Benguet. The school beneficiaries have an average population of 600 students each. GMAKF and PCA target to complete the school rehabilitation by June 2010 in time for the school opening.
Some of the school beneficiaries were earlier visited by GMAKF personnel during relief operations and were verified to be in need of rehabilitation. GMAKF coordinated with the Department of Education to identify other schools in need of rehabilitation assistance.
GMAKF Executive Vice President Mel C. Tiangco lauded the partnership with PCA. "We embark on the all important tasks to offset the aftermath left by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng through this partnership with PCA. We look forward to being able to help the underprivileged schools," Tiangco said during the signing. "The agreement we have with the most recognized construction firm will ensure that the daunting tasks of school rehab are in the hands of technical experts who will ensure the use of durable yet cost-efficient materials for the structural stability of school buildings," she added.
PCA President Liberito V. Espiritu welcomed the partnership with GMAKF. "The PCA is very fortunate to partner with GMA for the very eventful project. We are concentrating our efforts for the realization of our corporate social responsibility to uplift the lives of our fellow Filipinos," Espiritu said. "In this endeavor, we mobilize our people who form a technical team that practices value engineering to accomplish the construction of structurally safe buildings," he added.
Also present during the signing ceremonies were GMA Network Chairman, President, and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, GMA Network EVP and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., GMAKF Executive Director Arnel T. Hiloma, PCA Executive Director Manolito P. Madrasto, and PCA Chairman of Task Force Disaster Recovery- Ondoy and Pepeng Lito C. Pascual, and PCA Second Vice-President Ronaldo R. Elepaño, Jr.
The GMAKF KSR project will involve volunteers including teachers, parents, and people from the school areas to be serviced. Special tasks within the capacities of lay persons in the areas are assigned to them. Basic resources needed for the construction on-site are also handed over to the communities.
The project also requires a number of volunteers per day to ensure that targets of repair work are met. The communities themselves are made to feel accountable for the completion of the project, and are made responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the classrooms for the succeeding generations to come. |
