QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The dedicated education trust fund of the Quezon City government received about P13 million cash donations two months after its establishment in May 2023.
Rotary International District 3780, the Hiranand Group, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Quezon City, and the QC Association of Filipino-Chinese Businessmen Inc. were among the private organizations and business groups that made the said donations to support the learning recovery initiatives of the city.
Mayor Joy Belmonte emphasized the need to implement this initiative to meet the pressing education needs of students, especially those who faced a learning crisis because of the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I really believe in my heart that education holds the key to bring our country upward. With this program, we are ensuring that all public school students are given the necessary learning tools and programs to strengthen their foundational reading and numeracy skills,” said Mayor Belmonte, stressing that the creation of a special fund intended for learners also promotes collaboration and partnership among educational stakeholders.
On the other hand, the local government recently received a cash donation worth P500,000 from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).
“By investing in education, we help address the present needs of our citizens. Through this initiative, we help in equipping students with academic skills that will later help them engage in nation-building, participate in conflict resolution, and contribute positively to society,” said QCPD Chief PBGEN Nicolas Torre III.
The initial utilization of the education fund was allocated for the provision of targeted remediation activities among 58 students identified as non-readers in Commonwealth Elementary School and Bago Bantay Elementary School.
After participating in high-dosage tutoring sessions for eight (8) weeks, the said students are now able to identify and pronounce letters, read frequently used words, comprehend short passages, and understand basic texts, demonstrating progress in learning.
In 2023, the local government is targeting to enroll a total of 5,000 students into the learning recovery program with an overall aim of improving the skills of 50,000 public school learners in the city.
To further accumulate the funding for the program, the city government launched the “Kilo/s Kyusi Store” to sell pre-loved merchandise that were donated by various stakeholders including employees, officials, and partner organizations. It insofar generated more than P1 million in sales.
The city’s Learning Recovery Fund remains open for donations through the Land Bank of the Philippines – Account No.: LBP 1722-1032-42. (QC PAISD/PIA-NCR)
