Event Geek

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) launched its comprehensive program for Education during the RAFI Brand Launch for Education last May 3, 2011 at Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu. The event intended to present to the public the refreshed brand of RAFI, especially to key education partners and stakeholders. It also highlighted RAFI’s new Education plans and directions.

The launch featured the education initiatives of RAFI, including a new campaign for the rehabilitation of dilapidated public school buildings in Cebu. The campaign provides an opportunity for the various stakeholders to take part in improving the quality of education in Cebu, generating commitment among partners and stakeholders for RAFI’s education programs specifically for the repair of dilapidated public school buildings in Cebu under RAFI’s School Rehabilitation Program.

DepEd Undersecretary for Finance and Administration Francisco M. Varela was the keynote speaker. DepEd is a major partner of RAFI. The Brand Launch for Education of RAFI was participated by DepEd officials, local government units, academe, corporate individuals, business sectors, and other non-government organizations.

School Rehabilitation Program FAQ

What is School Rehabilitation Program?

The School Rehabilitation Program is one of programs of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) under its Education focus area. The School Rehabilitation Program aims to address the pressing gap in physical facilities of mass-based Philippine public education.

The program presents an innovative architecture of support that will provide safer and more conducive learning facilities for public elementary school children, and contribute to the improvement of the quality of education.

The project covers public elementary schools all over the Cebu Province. As of this date, the project has repaired and rehabilitated a total of 458 classrooms in 136 schools in 34 towns all over Cebu Province benefiting over 18,000 learners.

SRP also provides a platform for collaboration among the various stakeholders in education, such as the Department of Education (DepEd), the local government units, school administrators and teachers, the PTCAs, and the private sector, and employs a participatory approach wherein local stakeholders are empowered to contribute for the successful implementation of the project.

Why did RAFI develop and implement the School Rehabilitation Program?

Cognizant of this pressing gap in physical facilities of mass-based Philippine public education, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. launched in 2004 the School Rehabilitation Program. RAFI developed and implemented SRP to contribute to the government’s efforts of providing better learning opportunities despite the limited resources, and is aligned with DepEd’s Adopt-a-School program, which encourages private sector participation.

RAFI’s School Rehabilitation Program specifically aims to:

• Improve and prevent further damage to existing dilapidated public elementary school buildings;
• Provide better educational opportunities to public elementary students through a safe and conducive learning environment; and
• Encourage and enhance community participation and establish a sense of partnership through involvement in the repair/rehabilitation process.

Why is RAFI upscaling the School Rehabilitation Program?

This year, RAFI is once again gearing up towards strengthening its commitment and broadening its impact in the field of education. RAFI aims to help promote quality education even beyond Cebu Province by helping more school learners have a conducive, stimulating learning environment.

Since RAFI promotes community participation, the School Rehabilitation Program is one way of encouraging corporate individuals, business sectors, local government units, the community, and other non-government organizations to do their share in promoting quality education, and thus, helping these children become good leaders in the future.

What does the partnerships with various sectors entail?

The main proponent of the project is the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI). The project is managed by the Office of the Humanitarian Relations and Services. Implementation of the project is done in collaboration with the Department of Education-Cebu Province (DepEd-Cebu Province) and the local stakeholders.

A School Rehabilitation Committee composed of representatives from RAFI and DepEd-Cebu Province has been organized to act as the core group in the implementation of the School Rehabilitation Project. The Committee aims to ensure a smooth flow of the project, anticipate problems and make immediate actions to address concerns/problems during the implementation of the project; identify areas for improvements; and closely coordinate with the different partners and stakeholders.

The program defined some of the roles of partners involved: Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. shall provide for the needed construction materials for the repair and rehabilitation of the school building; DepEd shall provide policy guidance and directions to ensure the proper implementation of the project and assist in the identification, inspection and evaluation of schools for repair; the Local Government Unit shall provide for the labor counterpart of not less than 30 percent of the total material cost which shall be utilized for the payment of wages of manpower; and the recipient school partner shall act as resource mobilizer and responsible for negotiating with the LGU, PTCA and other community sectors to be the counterparts of RAFI and DepEd for the school repair and rehabilitation project in their localities.

What are the strategies and approaches of the School Rehabilitation Program?

RAFI will continue raising funds for the School Rehabilitation Program. RAFI will continue generate commitment among identified partners for RAFI’s education programs specifically the repair of dilapidated public school buildings in Cebu.

RAFI will launch the Gabaldon School Restoration Project, a partnership undertaking with the Cebu Provincial Government and its campaign and present the various opportunities and modes where the people or public can contribute (i.e. through the School Rehab Program webpage and other resource mobilization mechanisms); RAFI will generate support or pledges for the campaign that will accrue to the benefit of the public schools.

Will the School Rehabilitation Program be sustained?

RAFI will continue to create awareness among key education stakeholders, as well as private entities and other interested groups on significant trends and scenarios in the public education sector, specifically in Cebu.

With more funds raised from various fund-raising activities, the School Rehabilitation Program aims to repair more dilapidated schools even beyond Cebu.

Education is one of the five focus areas of RAFI, which creates a better environment to nurture the love of learning. Other focus areas include Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, and Leadership & Citizenship.