Lalamove, a leading on-demand delivery platform, granted 100 partner driver beneficiaries P20,000 worth of educational financial assistance during the awarding presentation of its BiyahEdukasyon program.
Lalamove Philippines recognized each beneficiary from senior high school and college at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, together with over 300 attendees, with the presence of government officials.
Recipients of the educational financial assistance expressed plans on using Lalamove’s support to fund tuition, covering miscellaneous costs for uniforms and school supplies, and even supporting day-to-day expenses.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2022 showed that only 81.4 percent of children 5 to 24 years old were able to attend school. Among the top reasons for inability to attend school were employment (19.7 percent) and high cost of education or financial problems (9.9 percent).
The program is designed to empower partner drivers’ families by providing a means to pursue their academic and career aspirations, reflecting Lalamove’s commitment to fostering growth and success in its partner communities. Over a thousand stories of triumph, resilience and perseverance were submitted and screened from Sept. 29 to Oct. 29, 2023, from partner drivers across Lalamove’s 48 serviceable areas.
Senate Committee on Basic Education chairman Sen. Win Gatchalian expressed optimism for the program in a recorded message shown during the event.
“Through BiyahEdukasyon, we are not only putting importance on education but also in materializing the dreams of our partner drivers to support the education of their children and siblings],” Gatchalian said.
“I wish that we continuously be a part of the growth of education in the country. Let us be part of the journey full of hope for our countrymen and our country],” he said.
Lalamove Philippines managing director Djon Nacario said the program empowers not only the lives of partner drivers but also the communities that they are a part of.
“Our mission is clear: to ensure the success of our partner drivers and the communities that we work with in every facet of life,” Nacario said. “This program is a testament to our commitment to creating lasting positive change and in improving other aspects of our partner drivers’ lives, including their livelihood.”
“This program not only demonstrates Lalamove’s commitment to its partner drivers but also underscores the significance of education as a key sector that we aim to continuously support.”
Fredinel Lopez, a 41-year-old partner driver from Manila, said that the financial aid could further support the education of one of his seven children. He shared that this is the least that he can do for his daughter in senior high school, who has consistently performed well at school.
“Lalamove has been a big help for my family and I. Through this financial aid, I can further support the perseverance of my child to continue studying and be a consistent honor student],” Lopez said.
Dennis Pagtalunan, a 33-year-old partner driver from Bulacan, also felt reassured after his sibling was chosen to be a beneficiary of the financial aid. He said that he really wants his brother, a Criminology undergraduate, to finish his studies and pursue the life that he has always dreamt of.
“We are 10 siblings in total and only two of us were able to reach at least at a high school level. One of them is currently in college, and I am financing his education. With the help of this program, almost five months’ worth of tuition fees will be covered for my sibling,” he said.
The BiyahEdukasyon program, spearheaded by Lalamove’s social initiative Deliver Care, is a step toward a more sustainable, long-term approach to assist the company’s partner drivers in their respective communities.
Its values-based approach aims to strengthen partner drivers’ capabilities to build the life that they want, by providing an extra thrust of support aside from the Panalomove Benefits that they receive from Lalamove.