LAOAG CITY — Some PHP3-million worth of laptops, robotics kits, multi-media projectors, digital microscopes, and laboratory equipment among others were distributed to 30 Ilocos and Cordillera public schools at the Aurora Park here Tuesday.
Funded by the Northern Star and Caltex Philippines, through its “Caltex Fuel Your School” program, these schools are the latest recipients of the 21st century learning tools for teachers and students who are engaged in the study of science, technology, engineering and math subjects.
The Caltex FYS is a community campaign from June 1 to July 31 this year, wherein students and teachers were actively engaged in social media promoting the Caltex FYS to online communities through flash mobs, motorcades and flyers. During this period, each fuel-up was matched by Caltex and branded marketer, Northern Star with a one-peso donation for every one liter fuel purchase at the participating Caltex stations in northwestern Luzon.
The PHP3-million target, achieved on July 31 this year, was enough to provide PHP100,000 worth of modern teaching and learning equipment each to the 30 public high schools selected by the Department of Education.
Launched in 2015, the program is part of Chevron Philippines’ social investment project that primarily aims to advance the quality of education of students in public schools, according to Joel Gaviola, the company’s assistant manager for policy, governance, and public affairs, said.
“We are looking for the high-need public schools because these are the schools that need the most assistance,” Gaviola said, noting that the projects they are giving out are requests from the schools themselves.
Northern Star Chief Operating Officer Juan Miguel Delgado said It was a good learning experience to help raise the quality of education of the country’s future problem-solvers, innovators and inventors that also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals target to build and upgrade education facilities in the country.
“With the new equipment, we are excited to go to classes and study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). We don’t have to waste time taking turns and the lessons have come to life with the videos explaining topics, like Geogebra. We are learning better and faster than we previously did with chalk and manila paper,” said Keithlyn Manayan, a Grade 12 student of the Ilocos Norte Agriculture College.
During the awarding ceremony, special awards were given to top-performing schools, such as the Narvacan National High Schools for having the most post likes, La Union National High School for having the most Caltex fans, and Abra National High School for having the most fuel-ups. Each of the three school awardees received additional laptops. (Leilanie Adriano/PNA)
