Northern Cement Corporation Supports Motolite-PBSP Balik Baterya Program

Last July 31, Northern Cement Corporation formalized its support to the Motolite-PBSP Balik Baterya Program through signing of the Memorandum of Agreement and turnover of their used lead-acid batteries (ULABs).

The company turned over almost 13 tons of ULABs and funds will be used to implement education projects for the public elementary schools within their community relations areas in Sison, Pangasinan.

Signing the MOA is Northern Cement Corporation's Plant Manager Mr. Emeterio Asuncion, with his team of officers that include Mr. Oliver Gorrospe, General Manager, Mr. Bernard Narciza, Pollution Control Officer and Ms. Marylyn Ramil, HR Manager.

Incorporated in 1969, the cement plant produces an annual average of 1 million tons of cement per year and caters mostly to the infrastructure requirements of Luzon. Northern Cement Corporation is owned by PBSP member company San Miguel Corporation.

19 Bigay Daan Scholars Graduate, 5 Now Employed

Last July 5, 19 scholars of Bigay Daan Year 4: Beauty for a Better Life graduated from the L'Oreal Academy after 45 days of training on hairdressing and make-up artistry.Each of the graduates were also provided with starter kits with cosmetics tools and products.

This year's batch of scholars were screened and recommended by PBSP partner organization, Sentro ng Kapatiran ni Ka Eddie Guazon (SKK). The scholars, aged 18-25 years old, came from poor households in Smokey Mountain, Tondo.

To date, 5 of the scholars have already been employed. The top three of the class were absorbed by L'Oreal Philippines and 2 graduates were accepted in David's Salon.

L'Oreal and PBSP are continuously assisting the graduates for employment opportunities in the salon industry.

Epson Donates to Pres. Corazon Aquino School Desk Project

Last July 26, Epson, represented by its President Mr. Kazuyuki Amano, turned over 405 arm chairs to the Pres. Corazon Aquino School Desk Project. The chairs were received by Ms. Viel Aquino-Dee.

Benefiting from these chairs are the 3 public high schools recommended by the DepE Division Office of Lipa City --- Inosloban-Marowoy National High School, Pinagtongulan National High School and Pinagkawitan National High School.

For SY 2013-2014, the Division reports a shortage of 2,411 chairs for its 62,000 current enrollees in the public schools.

Epson has been supportive of the city's public school system. Two years ago, the company has provided learning resource corners to 12 public elementary schools and has been active in DepeEd's annual  Brigada Eskwela.

Trans-Asia and Atlas Metals Turnover Story Books to Norzagaray School

With funds generated from their used lead-acid battery donation to the Motolite-PBSP Balik Baterya Program, Trans-Asia Philippines and Atlas Metals donated story books to FVR Phase 2 Elementary School in Norzagaray, Bulacan.

The school's reading profile in English shows that 32% of Grade 2 pupils and 25% of Grade 3 are considered frustrated readers. Frustrated readers can read but cannot fully understand what they are reading.

Thus, this story book donation can complement the school’s existing “Drop Everything and Read” which is done every last Friday of the month. It will also support the reading remedial classes of the school for those pupils who are frustrated readers.

For this project,  employee volunteers were also engaged in conducting story book reading during the project turn over as well as in covering the books.

Joining the turnover ceremony are Trans-Asia employees headed by Plant Manager Engr. Rafael Ponce, PBSP staff led by Luzon Regional Program Coordinator Mr. PaneiloTunac and Motolite's CSR Officer, Ms. Connie Deligero.

Give2Asia Turns Over MPC

PBSP-LRC recently completed the upgrade of the multi-purpose center (MPC) of the Southeast Peoples Village Homeowners Association, Inc. (SEPVHOAI) and the MPC was turned over formally through a ceremony attended by Give2Asia Program Consultant for the Philippines, Ms. Alexie Ferreria-Mercado, PBSP LRC Manager Ms. Kristine Rivadelo and Program Officer Ms. Elizabeth Crisologo, barangay officials of Ibayo Tipas and the SEPVHOAI officers and members. 

In July of 2011, the community, represented by SEPVHOA, received a grant from Give2Asia (G2A), through PBSP, for the reconstruction of its one-storey multi-purpose center (MPC). With reconstruction completed, the MPC is again functional and is serving its intended functions, including plans to put up a generic drug store in the MPC to provide access to cheap basic medicine to the community.

In the latter part of 2011, SEPVHOAI, through PBSP, submitted a proposal and got the approval for the construction of MPC’s second floor intended to be a temporary evacuation place given the experience of the community on flooding from intermittent occurrence of heavy downpour.

Based on engineering evaluation, the current structure can sufficiently accommodate a second-storey infrastructure because it has a good foundation. Specifically, it has six (6) foundations built from Class A concrete mix with 16-millimeter reinforcement steel bars. The additional floor space of 43.60 square meters can accommodate 100 persons, which would be of big use during extreme flooding.

The upgrading of the MPC covered floor finishing, wall enclosures, one toilet, roofing and stairways and all basic parts and features. The second floor shall expand the functional space of the building for the intended uses of SEPVHOAI. 

In Ms Mercado's message to the community, she hopes that the MPC will also serve as an information hub for disaster risk reduction and management. 

L'oreal and Accenture for Marikina Watershed

Accenture Employees

L'Oreal Employees

For the month of July, 112 employees from L'Oreal Philippines and 95 employees from Accenture travelled to Brgy. Mascap, Rodriguez, Rizal for the reforestation of 6 hectares in the communities of the Montalban-Wawa Subwatersheds. The 2 companies adopted a total of 10 hectares, where a mix of fruit-bearing and native trees will be planted. Planting of seedlings will be completed by partner farmers organization, the Ayaas Kay Rofa Farmers Association.

PLDT Turns Over 16 LRCs for Apalit

MVP and Ms. del Rosario with School Principals

PBSP Executive Director Rafael Lopa with DepEd Apalit District Supervisor Lou Vasquez

PLDT, through its ComRel Unit headed by Ms Evelyn del Rosario, recently turned over 16 learning resource corners to all of the 15 public elementary schools of Apalit, Pampanga and to Blue Ridge School of Apalit, Inc. The donation of these LRCs are expected to benefit at least 11,000 pupils.

This project can complement the school's existing "Drop Everything and Read" initiative which is done every last Friday of the month and DepEd's "Every Child a Reader Program" which was designed to equip elementary pupils in public schools with strategic reading and writing skills to make them independent young readers and writers. On the school level, it will support the reading remedial classes of the schools for those pupils who are frustrated readers.

The turnover of the LRCs were part of the celebration of the birthday of PLDT Chairman Mr. Manuel V. Pangilinan in Apalit, Pampanga.