PORAC, Pampanga — A renowned sugar company in the province and a non-governmental organization have forged a partnership in a bid to boost the local education sector here.
Pasudeco and HOPE are set to build two new classrooms at the Planas High School in Barangay Planas, holding the groundbreaking and capsule-laying ceremonies here on April 29.
Gracing the event were Pasudeco stakeholder relations manager Joel Dabao, HOPE program associate for education Strength Licuanan, Porac municipal administrator Atty. Maria Cecilia Kristina Africa, and Barangay Planas chairman Alfer Nacu, along with Planas High School principal Elizabeth Delfin.
In a simple program, Delfin thanked Pasudeco and HOPE, as the school building project will help alleviate the classroom gap in the school. “Grade 7 and 8 pupils will benefit from the completion of the facility, and students will no longer have to brave the hot weather in their old rooms.”
Dabao said that even as a strong earthquake in 2019 affected their business in Planas, Pasudeco has not forgotten the people who were vital to their success.
“Planas has a special place in our hearts. Sweet Crystal Sugar Mills, one of our priority investments before, was here in Planas and many locals from here worked for us. This is our way of giving back to them,” Dabao said.
Dabao added that Pasudeco also plans to implement other projects in other localities in Pampanga and is prepared to collaborate with the provincial government.
Speaking on behalf of the Porac LGU, Africa said the new classrooms are a gift not only to the school but to the whole municipality.
“Pasudeco has always been active in Porac and also finds ways to help the communities,” she said, adding that education has always been a priority of Mayor Jaime “Jing” Capil.
The new classrooms are expected to be completed in 2025.
The sugar central of the Pampanga Sugar Development Company (Pasudeco) was the first Filipino-financed sugar central in Pampanga established in 1917. Today, Pasudeco’s iconic chimneys are preserved at their original location in the City of San Fernando amidst the booming Capital Town development of Megaworld. Press release/Contributed photos
