Army gives out school supplies to Typhoon Pablo kids

MANILA, Philippines – The kids have to go back to school despite buildings destroyed by Typhoon Pablo in December 2012. And so the least the Philippine Army can do is give them the supplies they will need.

On Thursday, June 6, the Army sent 40,000 shoeboxes containing school supplies and personal care items to children in Compostella Valley and Davao Oriental, two provinces hardest hit by Typhoon Pablo.

Project Shoebox is an outreach program of the Philippine Army launched last year. The distribution of supplies as school opened in Mindanao this year is its biggest undertaking so far.

Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang said the 40,000 shoeboxes will be received by the Army’s 10th Infantry Division. Soldiers will distribute them to the indigent school children in Pablo-hit areas of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

Another 10,000 shoeboxes will also be distributed to different elementary schools in Metro Manila.

Project Shoebox was launched in 2012 in Camp Nakar, Lucena City, by the Army’s 4th Light Armor Battalion, Light Armor Division. The project has since gained the attention and support of the business community, local government units, and various individuals. 

“Illiteracy or ignorance is another battle that we, the men in uniform, could wage war on. For this reason, the Philippine Army is fully supporting the project to heighten the dimension of helping the youth who are future leaders of this country,” said Army chief Lieutenant General Noel Coballes.

“Not only will this project help and encourage the children to go to school, but it has also become a facility of convergence among different groups and individuals towards attaining a noble cause,” he added. – Rappler.com