Bancal Pugad Integrated School (BPIS) in Lubao, Pampanga said the donations they received from the member agencies of the Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC) will boost children’s learning amid the new normal.
This was after the RSCWC conducted a joint gift-giving activity dubbed as Pass-a-Book and #HatidMalasakit project, which aims to provide learning materials to children in indigenous peoples’ communities and other remote areas.
Joana Consunji, Grade 6 teacher from BPIS, said the donated school supplies will be a great help to their students because not all of them have the ability to buy school supplies and learning materials.
“Thank you also for the books because they are a great help to our school. As they say, books will open the imagination of the children. It will take them to different places where they will continue to dream for themselves and for their families,” she said.
For her part, RSCSWC 3 Regional Coordinator Aple Shane Lomoljo said the activity, which is in its pilot year, was conceptualized due to the observed lack of learning materials during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“If we look around, we will see that many students are faced with poverty. There are still many disadvantaged areas or those that are not frequently served by various government agencies. These [areas] are the ones we like to help as we transition from the pandemic,” she said.
Among the RSCWC member agencies which participated in the event is Philippine Information Agency Central Luzon which handed out assorted school supplies including plastic envelope with handle and zipper, writing pads, writing notebooks, pencils, sharpener, eraser, crayons, ruler, and brown envelope.
Philippine National Police also gave assorted school supplies, bond papers, and backpacks.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development donated sanitation kits including shampoo, body soap, alcohol, toothbrush, toothpaste, towels, sanitary pads, and facemasks.
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office meanwhile distributed food packs to the student beneficiaries.
Aside from that, local government units including the provinces of Bataan and Bulacan; as well as other government agencies like the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the National Economic and Development Authority donated books, encyclopedias, learning materials, and school supplies.
Despite being in its first year, Lomoljo said they are overwhelmed by the support of the RSCWC member-agencies.
“For the coming years, we hope to expand and cover more areas like Aurora and Nueva Ecija because we have seen that projects like these, even if they are very simple, have great impact on the children. The learning materials given to them will serve as a great inspiration for their future,” she said.
The RSCWC focal also hoped that the project will be localized by the local government units, and will also involve civil society organizations since they also have a role in the development of the child.
A total of 109 elementary students benefitted from the activity.
Aside from Bancal Pugad Integrated School, similar activities were also conducted at the Dueg Resettlement Elementary School in San Clemente, Tarlac; and Mampueng Elementary School in Olongapo City. (PIA 3)
