DepEd: P28.8B donated to public schools from 2011-2015

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education received more than P28 billion in donations and support to public schools from 2011 to 2015, the DepEd said in a statement on Sunday, June 26.

Deped Undersecretary for Partnerships and External Linkages Mario Deriquito made the report as he thanked the donors at the recent Adopt-A-School Program (ASP) (ASP) appreciation activity at the Meralco All-Purpose Hall in Pasig City.

Deriquito said that the department received around P28.8 billion from the private sector and other program partners through the from 2011 to 2015. For 2015 alone, DepEd got nearly P8 billion worth of donations.

“Because of you and through you, change has indeed come for our schools and our learners,” Deriquito said at the event.

ASP is an initiative under Republic Act 8525  or the Adopt-A-School Act of 1998, which seeks to address issues like shortage of classrooms, overcrowded classes, and schools not ready for the forthcoming school year.

This initiative allowed a partnership with other stakeholders who are willing to share resources to improve the country’s public school education. (READ: What we can learn from Brigada Eskwela)

DepEd identified a shortage of 66,800 classrooms at the beginning of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III in mid-2010.

Aquino promised to eliminate the shortage in the third year of his administration.

“You have helped us bring change into the lives of many learners. We are amazed and grateful at the convergence of support the education department has received over the past 6 years,” Deriquito said.

All these donations are being tracked using a data base and a mapping system. 

“This database shows how the donations are put into good use, and also, provides our partners with information about what the others are doing so that they can also enter into partnerships between and among themselves, for the cause of Philippine education,” Deriquito said.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro described the program as the “best and most institutionalized program in the department.” (READ: 3 things the private sector can do for basic education) – Rappler.com