CEMEX prepares learning spaces for young students with Brigada Eskwela

Building quality education is one of the cornerstones of cement manufacturer CEMEX Holdings Philippines’ “Build the Nation Together” social responsibility efforts in the country that are positioned to transform lives and empower Filipinos to achieve their dreams.

Through its social responsibility arm, CEMEX Philippines Foundation, the company annually joins hands with the Department of Education (DepEd) to lead Brigada Eskwela in public schools at communities where it operates.

“We recognize at CEMEX how education plays a central role in youth development and how it will provide them with greater opportunities in the future. Many of our community and outreach programs are dedicated to promote education for all Filipinos and the Brigada Eskwela is our small contribution in building a secure and clean place where students can learn and hone their potential,” said Chito Maniago, Director for Corporate Communications & Public Affairs at CEMEX Philippines and Executive Director of CEMEX Philippines Foundation, Inc.

This year, the theme of Brigada Eskwela, otherwise known as National School Maintenance Week, is “Pagkakaisa para sa Handa, Ligtas at Matatag na Paaralan tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan.”

In light of this theme, hundreds of CEMEX Help. Engage. Reach. Out. (H.E.R.O.) employees and community volunteers proactively worked with the government and other stakeholders to help improve learning environments for the young students of Tinaan National High School and CEPOC Elementary School at the City of Naga, Cebu and in Marcelino M. Santos National High School at Antipolo City, Rizal.

To kick off the Brigada, Chito Maniago and Erlinda Lizardo, CEMEX Corporate Communications Manager, led a brief event and ceremonial turnover of a two-horsepower electric water pump to CEPOC Elementary School to ensure ample water supply for the institution. CEMEX HR Manager Danilo Antonio, CEMEX Philippines community relations officer Marlito Cabigas, Tinaan Barangay Captain Teodoro Cantal, Tinaan National High School Principal Justiniana Lapiz, and CEPOC Elementary School Principal Antonio Rimas also graced the event. The CEMEX H.E.R.O. volunteers repainted ten classrooms in Tinaan National High School, and the interiors of the main building and social hall of CEPOC Elementary School. The volunteers also lent a hand in cleaning and preparing the surroundings within both school premises in preparation for the beginning of classes this June.

In Antipolo City, Rizal, the volunteers repainted 40 classrooms in Marcelino M. Santos National High School. Supporting the event is Normandy Chan, Solid Cement Plant Manager, together with the Solid Plant Ladies Club and Youth Group and Delta Earth Moving.

Before Brigada Eskwela began in 2003, students would spend the first few days of classes cleaning, repairing, and preparing the classrooms themselves. Through the DepEd initiative, armies of volunteers consisting of parents, teachers, students, alumni, community members, and private institutions joined hands to ensure students get quality environments conducive for learning every year.