Security Bank Foundation (SBFI) brought together academic partners Ateneo De Manila University and De La Salle Philippines, along with the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGUs) to donate ten classrooms to schools in Dumaguete. Junob National High School received six classrooms and Piapi High School received four.

The “Build a School, Build a Nation: The Classrooms Project” is the bank’s program to provide better learning environments to Filipino students. “Students can only learn in a child-friendly, gender sensitive and motivating environment,” said Dr. Evangel Luminarias, Dumaguete City DepEd superintendent.

Dr. Dino Depositario, Dumaguete City Government Director for Human Resources, echoed the value of The Classrooms Project. “We are very happy that Security Bank gives a premium to education. These buildings serve as true testaments that when the government unites with the private sector, we can do more,” said Depositario.

“It takes a village to educate a child, and this project is a very good sample of this saying put to action,” said Luisito Mapue, principal of Piapi High School. “For our part, we promise to do our best to educate our students and teach them to appreciate the gifts that were given to them,” said Mapue.

Florente Cenas, principal of Junob National High School, likewise shared his gratitude to Security Bank Foundation. “Before the donation, we had no rooms available for Junior High School students. We have to maximize our existing rooms by implementing two class shifts. The donation of Security Bank is very timely and we are very grateful,” said Cenas.

Grade 11 Piapi High School student Angelo Aries Duranis thanked Security Bank Foundation for the donation. “Maraming salamat po Security Bank Foundation sa pagbibigay ng school building sa aming paaralan. Malaking tulong sa amin ang bagong school building, lalo na at kulang ang aming paaralan sa classrooms. Sana po ay marami pa po kayong matulungan na mga mag-aaral kagaya namin,” said Duranis.

SBFI Chairman Rafael F. Simpao, Jr. outlined the roles of the different institutions in building classrooms. “Security Bank Foundation finances the construction of the classrooms, while the Department of Education accredits the beneficiary schools and provides the classroom furniture. The LGUs provide the land, assists in the demolition of old structures and issues the necessary permits. The academe partners, Ateneo and La Salle, design trainings for teachers and school heads,” stated Simpao.

To date, the Foundation has turned over 455 classrooms to 89 public schools in 48 cities and municipalities nationwide. For the rest of 2019, the Foundation aims to construct 94 more classrooms around the country.

The program is in line with the bank’s objective to build stronger and more resilient communities and secure a better quality of life for the next generation of Filipinos.

To know more about the Security Bank Foundation, visit www.securitybank.com/foundation.