Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) celebrated its classroom donation in Naga, Camarines Sur with the planting of Pili tree seedlings at the open grounds of Camarines Sur National High School, one of its beneficiary schools. The Pili is symbolic as the Bicol region is the largest exporter of delicacies made from the plant. 

“The Pili tree holds significance for Bicolanos as it represents stability and growth, similar to the benefits that education offers students. It also symbolizes the strong partnership of Security Bank, Ateneo, the Naga City Government, and the Department of Education in providing a shelter for learning to students with complementary opportunities for them to grow through the additional training programs offered for teachers and principals,” said Dr. Sulpicio Alferez III, Camarines Sur National High School Principal. 

Naga, Camarines Sur is the second town where SBFI piloted its Build a School, Build a Nation Program. In 2012, one-story prefab classrooms were donated to three public schools in Naga.  

With the rapid increase of student enrolment, limited buildable space, and challenging weather conditions, SBFI shifted to donating concrete two-story school buildings. SBFI went back to Naga to turnover 16 concrete classrooms consisting of a two-story, six-classroom school building in Naga City School of Arts and Trades and a two-story, 10-classroom school building in Camarines Sur National High School.    

Naga City Mayor Hon. Nelson Legacion lauded Security Bank Foundation for helping the city minimize their backlog in classrooms. “We have more than 50 banks here in Naga, but it was only Security Bank that donated classrooms even if they only have 2 branches in the city,” said Mayor Legacion. 

SBFI now has 691 classrooms turned over to 122 schools located in 69 cities and municipalities nationwide. “In all humility, we never imagined that we would exceed our original target of building 60 classrooms over a period of five years. Despite the pandemic, we continued to implement our Classrooms Project because we believe that these classrooms are crucial in the education of our nation’s children,” SBFI Chairman Rafael F. Simpao Jr said.  

SBFI now has 19 classrooms in total donated to Naga, counting the three prefab classrooms donated to Villa Grande Elementary School in 2012. These will serve as learning facilities for students in the city beginning school year 2023-2024. 

To learn more about SBFI’s projects and how you can contribute, visit www.securitybank.com/foundation.