November 02, 2013 — Deutsche Bank Ag Manila and SM Prime Holdings strengthened their social responsibility partnership with the inauguration of a school building built in Brgy. San Pedro, Pateros. The Pateros Elementary School is the recipient of a two-storey four-classroom school building complete with books, computers and health kits for kindergarten pupils. Aside from blackboards, teachers’ tables, electric fans and student chairs, a toilet with running water is provided for in each classroom. The school was chosen as beneficiary as it was badly in need of additional classrooms based on data from the Education Department. Because of the lack of classrooms, pupils attend classes in shifts.

According to lawyer Rhoneil Fajardo, chief financial officer of Deutsche Bank AG Manila, who represented the bank during the official turn-over of the school to Education Department, local government of Pateros and the school head, “upliftment of education is a big passion of Deutsche Bank in the Philippines.”  Employees of Deutsche Bank have painted murals in the classrooms during week-ends making it “a platform of enriching good values, love of environment and love of country.”

Carmen Linda Atayde, SM Foundation’s executive director for Education, said the school building project in Pateros was the 55th built through the foundation.