PARTNERS. Aboitiz’s Roland Gaerlan (right) is congratulated by Mayor Oscar Rodriguez during the turnover of 10 desktop computers donated by the private firm.
With them are Vice Mayor Edwin Santiago, Councilor Jimmy Lazatin, Sonny Carpio of Aboitiz Foundation and businessman Babes Lazatin. Photo by Joey Aguilar
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Aboitiz Power and its foundation has donated some P4 million for the construction of a two-storey building with four classrooms at the thickly-populated public elementary school in Barangay Malpitic here.
Aboitiz Power Sales and Marketing Vice President Roland Gaerlan and Sonny Carpio of the Aboitiz Foundation signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Mayor Oscar Rodriguez for the new building of the Malpitic Elementary School (MES).
In the same event, the Aboitiz firm gave 10 brand new desktop computers for the ICT High School in Barangay Sindalan.
Gaerlan said the main thrust of the Aboitiz’s corporate social responsibility is education. He added that they constructed at least 425 public schoolrooms in the country benefitting more than 20,000 students.
Aboitiz owns 43 percent of San Fernando Light and Power Company (SFELAPCO).
For his part, Rodriguez stressed the need for the government and private sector to work hand in hand to provide quality education to the poorest of the poor. He thanked Aboitiz for “hitting the mark” in helping them provide “better public education.”
PRO-EDUCATION
Councilor Jimmy Lazatin, chairman of the committee on education, said “the topmost priority of the city government through the present administration of Mayor Oca Rodriguez is provision of quality education.”
“Being the chair of the committee on education for seven years now, the passion and the commitment to not just come up with legislative measures in support of the advancement of the quality of education in the city, but likewise in making sure that these legislative measures are put into tangible outputs and are aligned with the vision of the city to make San Fernando a habitat for Human Execellence,” said Lazatin in his speech just before the MOA signing at the Heroes Hall here.
“Very fortunate for the City of San Fernando, Aboitiz has a strong and well-grounded corporate social responsibility which encompasses programs and projects that take its commitment above and beyond mere power generation and distribution but goes up to various educational, livelihood, health and environmental and infrastructure initiatives,” he added.
For his part, Malpitic Barangay Captain Lorensito Cansino said the donation of Aboitiz for their school is “a welcome development.” He disclosed that there are more than 2,000 MES students and “one classroom has 70 to 80 students at one time.”
Dr. May Eclar, Department of Education School Division Superintendent here, said they need at least 200 more classrooms in the entire city to meet the ideal 1:45 (teacher to students) ratio.
Vice Mayor Edwin Santiago, businessman Babes Lazatin of SFELAPCO, City Administrator Fer Caylao, and Jay Gatmaitan of Aboitiz Power also graced the MOA signing and turnover of computers.
