LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – More than 2,300 pupils from the different public schools in Benguet, Mountain Province and nearby areas benefited from the back-to-school program for host communities of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
With the opening of classes in the public schools on June 4, the NGCP donated school supplies in support to the pupils in the host communities through its “Gamit ni Bulilit” program. This is a yearly project that aims to assist grades 1 to 3 pupils from public schools in NGCP’s host communities all over the country through the provision of school supplies such as school bags, each with 10 notebooks, pencils, and other supplies which can be used throughout the year.
NGCP District 2 Corporate Communication Officer Melma Batario said that among their school supplies beneficiaries are pupils from Caliking in Atok; Ambngeg, Ambuklao and Kawal in Bokod; Binga, Ucab, Tinongdan, Ampucao and Poblacion in Itogon; Piminggan, Lubas and Ansagan in Tuba; Ambiong, and Lamut and Balukas in Beckel in La Trinidad in Benguet.
Beneficiaries also include the Guinzadan Elementary School and Banao ES in Mountain Province, Pingkian, Kayapa in Nueva Vizcaya and Bonboaya ES in San Manuel in Pangasinan.
More than 120,000 first to third grade students from 400 schools nationwide are included in the program this year. Beneficiaries are from 166 schools in North Luzon, 55 in South Luzon, 81 in Visayas, and 98 in Mindanao. These schools are located in barangays hosting NGCP’s facilities.
The pupils are also introduced to the basic concepts of transmission line safety. They are given age-appropriate lectures and materials on the do’s and don’ts around transmission lines and facilities, and on anti-pilferage.
“We focused our program on children from the lower grade levels on the idea that educational motivation is most effective during a child’s formative years. Fostering interest for learning at an early age will keep the children invested in their education and increase the chances of their staying in school. NGCP hopes that the children will be inspired to eventually finish their education,” the NGCP statement read.
“The program is also NGCP’s way of expressing gratitude to our host communities who, through the years, have been supportive in protecting NGCP facilities and in ensuring its safety so that everyone enjoys reliable electricity”, it added.
NGCP, a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid has been a partner of the government in providing school supplies and other support to the different schools in the country as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.
By Redjie Melvic Cawis
