DILG backs ‘1 Million Lapis’ project

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is supporting the “One Million Lapis” project launched recently by the Council for Welfare of Children (CWC) for the benefit of underprivileged students in public elementary schools around the country.

DILG Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento said the project is undertaken by the CWC and the Department of Education (DepEd) in partnership with SM Supermalls and National Bookstore.

“The DILG, as one of the lead advocates of building a child- sensitive and childfriendly society through a mandatory audit system called

the Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit, puts premium in promoting children’s rights to education, especially for those whose socioeconomic situations have impeded their chances to go to school,” Sarmiento said.

The program aims to collect a million pencils to be given to students in elementary schools nationwide.

The campaign is envisioned to break the Guinness World Records this year for the longest line of pencils.

A documentary report in 2012 showed that in far-flung villages, some elementary students divide one pencil into three to be able to write their lessons.

As a manifestation of support for the project, a drop box for donation of new and old pencils has been placed at the lobby of the DILG central office in Pasig City. Other “One million lapis” drop boxes are found in government agencies and SM malls.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines will transport the pencils to the storage facility of the DepEd main office.

The final counting and official declaration of the number of pencils collected will be on Nov. 5 as a kick- off activity for the celebration of National Children’s Month.