Security Bank Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of Security Bank Corp., has formally turned over a two-story, eight-classroom school building for the students of Davao City National High School in Davao City.
SBFI chairman Rafael F. Simpao Jr. led the turnover ceremony with SBFI trustee/corporate secretary Melissa Aquino, Security Bank branch Banking Group head Leslie Y. Cham, Davao City Councilor Pilar C. Braga, Education program supervisor Marcelo O. Roco of the Department of Education, and Public Schools District supervisor Wenefredo O. Cagape, who is also the Principal of DCNHS.
Davao City National High is a top performing school that earlier this year saw its students winning the second prize in the Plant Sciences category during the Intel-International Science and Engineering Fair, held in Los Angeles, California.
The science fair is one of the largest and most prestigious high school science research competitions in the world. Their winning entry, entitled “Insecticidal Activity of Acacia (SamaneaSaman) Bark Extract Against Adult Rice Black Bug (Scotinophora sp.)” aims to provide a safer alternative for rice farmers in controlling the devastating effects of black bugs to rice crops.
Aside from the cash prize of US$1,500 received from the contest organizers, three asteroids will also be named after the young researchers from DCNHS, namely Rubeliene Chezka Gloria, Nadine Antonette Obafial and Myrelle Angela Colas.
Simpao Jr. said: “This partnership reaffirms SBC’s unwavering commitment to the learning and development of our children’s education because it is vital to the future prosperity of the country.
“We hope that through our Build A School, Build a Nation Project, we will be able to create conducive and innovative education facilities in grassroots areas which will allow our youth to fulfill their potential – which will then create a positive and lasting impact on our society,” the bank chairman said.
SBFI’s “Build A School, Build A Nation: The Classrooms Project,” is a partnership with DepEd, local government units, and educational institutions such as Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle Philippines.
The social development project is SBFI’s response to the government’s call for support in reducing the classroom shortage in the country.
From 13 classrooms benefitting 1,000 students in 2011, The Classrooms Project has, to date, provided 375 classrooms in 44 cities and municipalities nationwide, growing the number of beneficiaries to over 90,000 public school students since the project’s launch.
Security Bank Foundation, Inc. fully commits to continue building more classrooms in the future for public schools nationwide – and create a brighter tomorrow for the next generation of Filipinos through education.