Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Captain Of Success
Top Stories

Stock Markets

DepEd, HOPE tap big brands to address Philippines’ 165,000 classroom backlog

THE Department of Education partnered with Hope to launch Generation Hope on Monday to address classroom shortages in the country. — EDG ADRIAN A. EVA

THE Department of Education (DepEd), in partnership with HOPE and leading local brands, launched Generation Hope on Monday to help address classroom shortages of more than 165,000 in the country. The public-private partnership aims to build more public-school classrooms throughout the country by channeling a portion of profits and donations from consumers of the country’s leading brands. This includes companies like BDO, Carmen’s Best, Grab, Penshoppe, The Aivee Clinic, SM Supermalls, and Sunnies.

DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara welcomed the partnership, especially as the agency works with a budget insufficient to address an increasing classroom backlog.

“The budget really is insufficient every year. The deficit has been growing. Twelve years ago, maybe the deficit was 55,000 classrooms — now it’s 165,000,” Mr. Angara said during the launch.   

“There’s a million of us, but sometimes it feels lonely — especially when our budget was cut by 12 million.”   

HOPE founder Nanette Gwen Medved said the initiative marks an expansion of the organization’s efforts, which began in 2012. While they have already built 144 classrooms since then, she said that this is still a “drop in the bucket” compared to the overall classroom shortage. 

“If we want to inspire the nation to nation-build through education, we have to do it with the big brands. It’s not going to happen with small brands,” Ms. Medved said.

HOPE classrooms cost only between P1.2 million and P1.4 million to build, compared to their DepEd counterparts, which average P2.5 million. 

Funding for these classrooms will come from a portion of the profits or rewards generated by consumers of partnered brands.

BDO has pledged to donate P5 for every P1,000 spent using the “HOPE in Every Spend” credit card. Cardholders also have the option to convert their reward points into donations. A portion of the annual membership fee will also be allocated to the initiative.

Meanwhile, ride-hailing app Grab will allow its users to convert their rewards points into donations to support the construction of HOPE classrooms.

SM Supermalls will also contribute a portion of proceeds from SM-branded water bottles sold through partner food merchants. 

Other brands, such as Penshoppe, Carmen’s Best, Aivee Clinic, and Sunnies, will be launching exclusive product lines dedicated to supporting HOPE classrooms.

The exact number of classrooms planned for construction under the Generation HOPE program has yet to be announced. More classrooms are expected to be built due to expanded support from the private sector and consumers. — Edg Adrian A. Eva

    You May Also Like

    Stock Markets

    PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. met with Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on May 26 as part of the 46th ASEAN Summit and...

    Stock Markets

    In the photo from left to right: WeFund Lending Corp. President and CEO Francisco “Coco” Mauricio, Netbank Head of Lender Amiel De Sotto, Netbank...

    Stock Markets

    ABOITIZECONOMICESTATES.COM By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Reporter ABOITIZ INFRACAPITAL, Inc. (AIC), the infrastructure subsidiary of the Aboitiz group, said it expects up to 25...

    Finance

    Small businesses in the North East of England are preparing to showcase their products and services to buyers from across the globe, as the...

    Disclaimer: CaptainOfSuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice.
    The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.