DepEd Thanks Educ Partners, Strengthens Gov’t-Private Sector Relations

                                                                                                                               DEPED 

Pasig City – The Department of Education (DepEd) expressed its gratitude to more than 130 education partners who continue to help in the delivery of basic education to more than 21 million Filipino learners in the country at the annual Appreciation Program for Partner held at Meralco Multi-purpose hall on October 14.

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro thanked the partners saying, “One of the many challenges in the Department of Education is extending our concern and love to each of the 21 million students who are in our care. Your generosity has allowed us to passionately express that love, care and concern to our students.”

This year’s theme “Ensuring Quality Education through Partnerships,” recognizes the 65 infrastructure and 67 non-infrastructure organizations that had supported DepEd in its education programs. These initiatives include nationwide feeding programs, training and skills development of teachers, Information and Communications Technology programs, among others.

Aboitiz Foundation Executive Director Mr. Sonny Carpio said, “We are here to assist the government in attaining its goals in education. When our companies grow, the community around us should also grow. It has to be everybody. Walang iwanan, lahat tayo dapat umasenso (No one should be left behind; all of us should progress).

For this year, support packages worth more than 5.5 billion pesos were delivered by partners to schools.

“Sana po ay hindi kayo magsawa sa pagtulong (We hope that you will not grow tired of helping). We hope that our partnerships would continue to thrive for the sake of our learners nationwide,” said DepEd Undersecretary for Partnerships and External Linkages Mario Deriquito. He also extended his gratitude for the efforts of the private sector in responding to the Department’s call to “adopt schools in calamity stricken areas to aid in their recovery from recent disasters.”

Luistro concluded the ceremony by inviting the organizations to “prioritize providing education for all by supporting the Abot Alam Program.” He added, “Apart from providing access to quality education, with your help, our ‘last mile’ in this administration is prioritizing indigenous peoples, street children, children with disabilities, and all other needs that will help to come to school. I share this because this is what nation building is all about – it is about individuals, corporations like you who are passionate about helping others and showing that there are people who care.”