The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) teamed with the National Bookstore Foundation Inc. and distributed school supplies to more than 3,200 students from six public elementary schools in Barangay Mailum, Bago City, and Barangay Minoyan, Murcia, to help them cope with the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unlike its school supplies distribution events pre-pandemic, there was no mass gathering this year. COVID-19 health protocols were strictly observed to ward off virus transmission when the school supplies were dropped off at the schools, a press release from EDC said.
EDC also gave an additional 10 reams of bond paper to each school from its MakiPAPEL employee donation drive to further help the students and teachers with their modular learning materials for distance learning.
“EDC never fails to give to our learners despite the pandemic,” April Joy Biboso, faculty member of F. Barandiaran Elementary School, said.
“They are consistent and very responsive to our needs.” Amygine Bance, a teacher from Minoyan Elementary School, also said.
To prevent classes from falling behind as the pandemic stretches on, educators need more general instructional support in adapting to the curriculum and accelerating the teaching-learning process, the press release said.
The organization started giving out school supplies in 1993 and has long been involved in combining business success with social change through its educational projects and environmental stewardship, it added.
Norreen Bautista, head of EDC’s Corporate Social Responsibility Department in Negros Island, said “Let us remember, CARE: C for Collaborative that amidst this pandemic, we have this spirit to be collaborative, A-Agile, we are ready to adjust and be available for our learners, R for Responsive, we are responsive to the need of our dear pupils and students, and lastly, E for Engaging to our stakeholders—our pupils, students, parents, and to the community where we belong.”*