In line with a shared goal to support communities affected by Typhoon Yolanda, BDO Foundation and Consuelo Foundation constructed a new school building in the municipality of Mondragon, Northern Samar, a project that benefits hundreds of underprivileged students.

The new two-storey, eight-classroom school building in Mondragon Agro-Industrial High School (MAIHS) is the third school building constructed under the partnership of the two foundations. The partners previously completed school buildings in Giporlos and Lawaan, both in Eastern Samar. The corporate citizenship initiative is the result of a tie-up that began in 2015.

The construction of the school building in MAIHS is in line with the disaster response advocacy and long-term rehabilitation program of BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank, for calamity-stricken provinces. Typhoons Yolanda and Nona devastated the high school, affecting more than 330 of its students who, as a result, attended classes in makeshift classrooms and in the school gymnasium.

The project is also part of Consuelo Foundation’s Haiyan Operations for Protection and Empowerment program, also known as Project H.O.P.E. Registered in the United States, this philanthropic organization aims to prevent and treat child abuse, neglect and exploitation in the Philippines and in Hawaii. The foundation was founded by the late Consuelo Zobel Alger, who sought to serve the poorest of the poor and ensure a decent quality of life for the most needy families and children throughout the Philippines.

The new school building in Mondragon was turned over to the Department of Education and school administrators in inaugural ceremonies led by Consuelo Foundation managing director Atty. Carmela Andal Castro, BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito, BDO Foundation program director Rose Espinosa and BDO Samar-Catarman branch head Trinity Abesamis. The new building was graciously accepted by the students and faculty represented by MAIHS principal John Delorino.

The completion of the project was welcomed by the community of MAIHS, a public technical vocational school that specializes in agricultural and industrial education. The academic institution currently teaches more than 900 students. The new building comes complete with blackboards, fans, desks for the teachers and chairs for the students.