Last Jun. 30, SM Foundation (SMFI), together with the Department of Education (DepEd) Sorsogon, held a virtual groundbreaking ceremony for its first school building project at Basud Elementary School (BES) in Sorsogon City. While it is the project’s first building in Sorsogon City, it is also SM’s 102nd school building nationwide.
SMFI, through its School Building Program, is an active partner of DepEd’s Adopt-a-School program. This social good initiative of SM Foundation aims to promote quality public education by building classrooms nationwide.
Joji Buelvo, BES school principal said that the soon-to-be built SM school building serves as a gift and an inspiration for them. Meanwhile, DepEd-Sorsogon External Partnerships Head Shirley Estrelles expressed her gratitude to SM for this initiative stating: “This project of SM Foundation will highly benefit not just DepEd but the whole community of Barangay Basud, especially our learners.”
In proper protective gear and while observing mandated health and safety protocols, the on-site capsule laying activity was conducted by a few representatives from DepEd, SM Prime, and the local government unit, while the rest of the attendees viewed the ceremony via an online video conferencing platform.
With regard to the day’s event, DepEd-Division of Sorsogon Public Schools District Supervisor, Antonio Jintalan, stated, “this serves as a proof that we have successfully conducted this momentous occasion through the unified participation and collaboration between SM Foundation and DepEd—amid the crisis that we are currently facing. The pandemic should not stop us from partnering with our stakeholders for the betterment of our learners, we just need to strictly follow the health and safety protocols of the DOH.”
His sentiments are consistent with SMF’s statement saying, “Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we are ensuring the continuity of our School Building program and other social good efforts. We believe that companies should find innovative ways in adapting to our current situation and become effective partners of our government in this extraordinary time of great need.” To date, SMFI continues to exert effort to adapt to the new normal.
