In time for the opening of classes for academic year 2014-2015, the Aboitiz Group participated in this year’s Brigada Eskwela program, reaching out to 186 schools throughout the country.

Spearheaded by the Aboitiz Foundation, the Group has been participating in the annual Brigada Eskwela program of the Department of Education (DepEd) since 2008 to help provide the students from its host communities a school environment conducive to learning.

“Amongst many other education-related initiatives, the foundation continuously supports Brigada Eskwela as we believe great education starts in an environment that can truly make students feel at home – where they belong,” said Aboitiz Foundation Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Sonny Carpio.

Aboitiz business units participated in batches, with some holding the program as early as the first week of May, while others chose to conduct the activity up until the end of the month.

A total of 1,691 team members took part in this initiative, increasing by 17% from last year’s 1,443 volunteers.

Aboitiz companies from the corporate headquarters, together with CitySavings Bank – Ortigas Branch, have rallied up team members to volunteer for the Brigada Eskwela for painting and repair of materials for Signal Village High School in Taguig City last May 24.

Around 120 team members, together with local government representatives, teachers and students of the beneficiary school worked on the repainting of the interior and exterior walls of school buildings, boards, and gates, and some checking up of the computer units in the cyber laboratory.

Food subsidiary Pilmico was able to rally up around 40 and 30 team members from its feeds and flour groups, respectively.

City Savings Bank was able to gather 720 employee volunteers and serviced the bulk of school beneficiaries in May. Some 153 schools nationwide underwent minor repairs and repainting work during the activity.

Meanwhile, AP Renewables, Inc., Hedcor, Inc., Luzon Hydro Corporation, Subic Enerzone Corporation, Mactan Enerzone Corporation, AboitizLand, Visayan Electric Company, Cotabato Light and Power Co., Davao Light and Power Co., Therma South, Inc., Therma Marine Maco, and Therma Marine Nasipit have engaged around 720 team members in improving the various school facilities across Albay, Agusan del Norte, Batangas, Benguet, Cebu, Compostella Valley Province, Cotabato, Davao, Ilocos Sur, Lanao del Norte, Negros Oriental, Subic, and Tarlac.