TAYTAY, Rizal – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) MiMaRoPa received eight school boats from the St. Therese College Quezon City Alumnae Association (STCQCAA) in a ceremonial turnover held last August 23, 2014.

The school boats are intended for students in the island barangays of Coron, Palawan who were mostly Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in Indigenous People communities. There are seven barangays, one of which will get two boats since there are more children traveling from their barangay, who will benefit in this collaboration. About 90 students will have the chance to ride in the said boats to be able to get to their schools everyday.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman personally received the assets from STCQCAA President Dr. Carmencita Reodica. Dr. Redioca in her message said, “Ito ay maliit na tulong mula sa STCQCAA n asana ay makagaan sa dalahin ng mga nasalanta.” Sec. Soliman stressed, “Hindi lamang simpleng tawiran ang magagawa ng mga bangkang ito. Isa itong malaking tulong para mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga batana bumasa, sumulat at lalong mapabuti ang pag-aaral, nang sa gayon ay mapaunlad ang kanilang buhay at kinabukasan.”

Sec. Soliman further added that the national government ensures that children finish high school to provide them more opportunities, help them improve their lives and in turn break the intergenerational cycle of poverty. The production of school boats is in response to the agreement made during the field visit of National Advisory Committee members in Coron, Palawan last April 2014. Present in the activity was Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Executive Director Emmeline Verzosa who happens to be a member of the STCQCAA. Director Verzosa coordinated with the STCQCAA regarding the difficulty of transportation of students and fortunately, with the goal of the alumnae association to help students in need, funds were made available to produce the boats.

The collaboration is one of the many efforts made to continuously provide opportunities in helping the poor people and communities. DSWD hopes that this partnership with STCQCAA inspires other organizations to convergence and bring change in the country.

Also in attendance are the officers and members of STCQCAA and DSWD MiMaRoPa regional staff headed by Regional Director Wilma D. Naviamos. ###