VP Leni: Private sector should help provide quality education to the poor

Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo stressed yesterday that poverty hounding many Filipinos could be addressed by educating and empowering citizens.

“Education is key to disrupting the cycle of poverty. Education is also critical in reducing security problems, especially in very poor areas in the country,” said Robredo.

And the need to provide quality public education should not be solely a government’s concern, the Vice President stressed.

“It should be everyone’s concern. And the private sector — through foundations such as yours—can change the future for education in the coming years,” she said.

Robredo, a lawyer, gave the keynote speech on Monday night at the Philam Foundation 20th anniversary celebration in Makati City.

Philam Foundation is a partner of the Office of the Vice President’s Angat Buhay program, whose core advocacies include education apart from women empowerment, rural development, healthcare, food security, and housing.

Under their partnership, they were able to build classrooms in Severo High School in Calabanga, Camarines Sur.

They also have ongoing similar projects worth 19 million in other Angat Buhay areas namely Lantapan, Manolo Fortich, and Sumilao, all located in Bukidnon; and Bato, Catanduanes.

“These are nine typhoon-resilient and fully-furnished classrooms with wash facilities. When finished, these will benefit over 360 students,” Robredo said, noting the classrooms will be “instrumental in the emancipation from ignorance of future generations.”

“Classrooms should not just be a construction project, but an effort to enrich the minds of future generations of leaders, innovators, and change makers,” the lady official said.

In her speech, the former Camarines Sur congresswoman emphasized that participation of the entire community makes any project succeed.

“We recognize that the people who are in need of help often have the better ideas. Involvement and participation empower, too. They build confidence, dignity, and build bridges of understanding within the community as well as with the outside world,” she said.

“Citizen participation may take more time and they are messier, but they allow public-private partnerships to create a stronger nation rather than just provide infrastructure,” the Vice President stressed.