In photo: One of the classrooms donated by Global Business Power Corporation and GT Foundation, Inc.
(Photos courtesy of Global Business Power Corporation)
Independent power producer Global Business Power Corporation (GBP), through subsidiaries Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) and Cebu Energy Development Corporation (CEDC), has partnered with the GT Foundation, Inc. (GTFI) to donate school buildings in the City of Iloilo and Toledo City in Cebu.
PEDC and GTFI constructed a two-classroom building at NJ Ingore Elementary School in Barangay Ingore, La Paz, Iloilo City. CEDC and GTFI, meanwhile, erected a similar two-classroom building at North City Central School (NCCS) in Toledo City, Cebu. The donations were aimed to address increasing enrollment and improve learning conditions of the said public elementary schools.
Each donated classroom can accommodate up to 40 people and comes completely furnished with desks, student chairs, teacher’s tables, cabinets, electric fans and even a SMART TV – ready to welcome back the students of NJ Ingore and NCCS in the near future once face-to-face classes resume. The buildings also have comfort rooms installed for convenience of the pupils and teachers.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the classrooms are currently being used by the assigned teachers as a work station to prepare modules and other materials for the students learning from home.
“We, at GT foundation, believe that how we respond to a crisis defines who we are and showcases what we are made of,” said Aniceto Sobrepeña, Executive Director of GTFI, the family foundation of the late Metrobank Group Chairman, Dr. George S.K. Ty. “In more ways than one, these school buildings are a testament of our resolve to follow through with our commitment despite the difficulties we faced in the previous year,” he said.
“GBP believes that these kinds of projects will contribute to the progress of the community, gearing towards excellence and quality education,” said GBP President Jaime Azurin. “We recognize that education is vital in creating an enlightened nation. These projects, including our scholarship programs and programs to support the school teachers, all contribute in the pursuit of our vision of enlightening lives and empowering progress,” he added.
At present, PEDC supports 43 scholars in NJ Ingore Elementary School while CEDC sponsors 42 scholars in North City Central School as part of GBP’s scholarship program. As of 2020, Global Business Power supports over 800 students from Iloilo, Cebu, Aklan and Mindoro.
