Pasig City (26 November) — Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Jesli Lapus lauds SM Supermalls for ‘helping provide needed resources to typhoon-hit public schools still recovering from the damages wrought by the recent calamities.’

Some 1,600 benches were turned over to the department’s Adopt-A-School Program (ASP) in a recently held ceremony in the DepEd central office in Pasig City. ASP encourages private sector groups to work with DepEd in boosting government resources in education.

‘This is a fine example of a private sector-led initiative working for our public schools,’ affirmed Lapus.

He noted, ‘This cooperation speaks of the bayanihan spirit working to help our teachers and students recover from the catastrophe caused by the recent typhoons. We look forward to seeing more engagements between our schools and the private sector through Adopt-A-School.’

ASP Executive Director Mari Paul Soriano said, ‘We thank SM Supermalls for being one of our partners that immediately responded to the secretary’s call for more private sector donors to work with DepEd in helping bring the situation in our schools back to normal.’

More than 400 private sector individuals and companies have helped the department in the delivery of quality educational services to public schoolchildren since Adopt-A-School was relaunched by Lapus in 2006.

The massive support from the private sector has made Adopt-A-School the department’s second biggest resource generating mechanism next to the approved DepEd budget.

‘What we have seen is Brigada Eskwela Plus in action – the community working to help our public schools year-round,’ added Lapus. (DepEd)