Friday | May 26, 2017 | 9:00 AM

Weeks before students troop back to school this June, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) allocated P2 million to help refurbish selected public schools nationwide.

This initiative is part of PAGCOR’s participation in the Department of Education’s (DepEd’s) Brigada Eskwela project, an annual national schools maintenance week which was held from May 15-20, 2017. A total of 22 public schools in communities hosting a Casino Filipino (CF) branches were selected this year.

Manuel Perez, CF Tagaytay’s Senior Human Resource Officer said, they chose the schools that are in dire need of repair and renovation. “Our priority schools are those that rarely receive help or those in far-flung communities. Gusto natin na sa kahit konting paraan ng paglilinis or repaintingof classrooms, makagawa tayo ng pagbabago sa buhay ng mga bata,” he said.

Apart from cleaning, repainting and repair of classrooms and other school furniture, PAGCOR also turned over assorted cleaning materials to schools beneficiaries.

One of the schools was the Bebe Matua Elementary School (BMES) in Masantol South, Pampanga. Volunteer employees from CF Angeles led by General Manager Redentor Rivera cleaned the school grounds and painted the entrance gate. They were joined by PAGCOR’s Senior Assistant Vice President Edwin Bermudez who is an alumnus of BMES.

Bermudez shared that when he participated in the Brigada Eskwela, he realized that he has to help his alma mater get the much-needed facelift since most of its facilities especially its classrooms already require renovation.

BMES Head Teacher Aileen Canilao said they always look forward to the annual Brigada Eskwela because it allows their stakeholders to participate in school clean-up prior to opening of classes.

“Hindi lang gumaganda at naa-ayos ang aming pasilidad. Nadarama rin namin ang diwa ng bayanihan. Sobra ang pasasalamat namin sa PAGCOR na nakiisa sa Brigada Eskwela sa aming paaralan,” she said.

Among other schools in Luzon that benefited from PAGCOR’s participation in the Brigada Eskwela program were Burgos Agro Industrial School in Ilocos Norte, Upper Sibul Elementary School in Olongapo City, Malabag Elementary School in Silang, Cavite and Banaba Lejos Elementary School in Indang, Cavite.

In the Visayas Region, the beneficiaries were Manipis Elementary School, Maghaway Elementary School, Ibo Elementary School, Looc Elementary School, Guizo Elementary School, Umapad Elementary School, Buhisan Elementary School, Tuong Elementary School, Tungkop Elementary School and Nangka Elementary School – all in Cebu, and Handumanan Elementary School in Bacolod City.

Meanwhile, the Sixto Babao Elementary School in Davao City also benefited from PAGCOR’s participation in Brigada Eskwela this time in Mindanao.

In Metro Manila, beneficiaries included A. Villegas Elementary School, Andres Bonifacio Elementary School (Manila) and P. Villanueva Elementary School, Bernabe Elementary School and Gotamco Elementary School in (Pasay City).

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