■ FIRMS DONATE TECH-VOC EQUIPMENT TO CEBU SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS
AboitizPower subsidiaries Cebu Private Power Corp. (CPPC) and East Asia Utilities Corp. (EAUC) donated tech-voc equipment worth P2.8 million to Pusok National High School in Lapu-Lapu City and Don Carlos A. Gothong Memorial National High School in Cebu City last Jan. 4 and 17, respectively. “The tools and equipment we received will play a vital role in shaping our future. This will guarantee us that the moment we step out of this school,” said student Ralp Yao, 16.
Pusok National High School in Lapu-Lapu City and Don Carlos A. Gothong Memorial National High School in Cebu City received P2.8M worth of equipment
Two senior high schools are poised to become among the most equipped technical-vocational (tech-voc) institutions in Cebu once the new academic year starts in June.
This after AboitizPower subsidiaries Cebu Private Power Corp. (CPPC) and East Asia Utilities Corporation (EAUC) donated tech-voc equipment worth P2.8 million to Pusok National High School in Lapu-Lapu City and in Don Carlos A. Gothong Memorial National High School in Cebu City last Jan. 4 and 17, respectively.
“The tools and equipment we received will play a vital role in shaping our future. This will guarantee us that the moment we step out of this school, we would have already acquired the skills and knowledge needed to become the best we can be,” said Ralp Yao, 16, a Grade 10 student taking up shielded metal arc eld- ing at the Don Carlos A. Gothong Memorial National High School.
The two schools received sewing machines, heavy-duty power drills, lathe machines for their SMAW laboratories, and spindle moulders for their woodwork facilities, among others, to strengthen their Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) tracks.
Good use
While Ralp plans to shift to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand once he enters senior high school in preparation for his pursuit of becoming a medical doctor, he hopes to still be able to put his welding skills to good use.
A total of 844 senior high school students from both schools were seen to benefit from this project, aimed at helping learners maximize their educational experience by providing them with the means to practice what they are studying.
Alice Ganar, Gothong High School principal, said the donation was timely since one of their targets in the school’s improvement plan is to fully develop all TVL and TLE (technology and livelihood education) shops, eventually turning these into assessment centers for Technical Education and Skills Development Authority certification.
Dr. Bianito Dagatan, Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu City division superintendent, said he hopes the project will teach the students the value of charity and inspire them to become givers as well.
The project was made possible through AboitizPower’s partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation, ALPA Land Inc., Ideal Builders Development Corp., and the City Government of Lapu-Lapu.
“AboitizPower, Aboitiz Foundation, and our partners recognize the importance of education in building a better future for this nation. Through this contribution, we want to be able to help mold the youth of today into the leaders of tomorrow,” said Alexander Coo, vice president for corporate services of AboitizPower’s Oil Business Unit.
Among those who were present during the turnover ceremonies were Dr. Dagatan, AboitizPower’s Coo, DepEd Lapu-Lapu City Division Superintendent Dr. Marilyn Andales, and ALPA Land president and chief executive officer Barbara Gothong-Tan.
In 2017, CPPC and EAUC supported the implementation of DepEd’s senior high school program through the provision of financial assistance to 60 senior high schools students from selected schools within Cebu province.
This year, AboitizPower saw the need to further help these learners by giving them more opportunities to apply the skills they learned in school.