SM scholars from Roxas City volunteer to clean the new school building ahead of its turnover

SM scholars from Roxas City volunteer to clean the new school building ahead of its turnover

In preparation for the start of the school year, SM Prime, in collaboration with SM Foundation, has delivered a fully furnished two-story building to the President Manuel Roxas Memorial Integrated School-South in Roxas City, Western Visayas. This marks the completion of the 104th school building constructed through their partnership, constructed in accordance with the Department of Education's (DepEd) specifications. The building features four classrooms, each equipped with desks, chairs designed for left-handed students, dedicated toilets for each classroom, including a specially designed toilet for persons with disabilities (PWDs) on the ground floor.

Furthermore, the building includes concave blackboards, electric fans, and LED lighting. Emergency lights have been installed in the stairways to ensure preparedness in case of emergencies. In line with DepEd's commitment to providing access to water for hygiene and sanitation, SM Foundation has also installed a handwashing facility with liquid soap for the benefit of the community.

In addition to this construction, the SM group has pledged to assist in the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the school, further demonstrating their commitment to supporting education in the region.

Social Good

SMFI School Building head, Juris Soliman (center) leads the preparation if the school building turnover.

DepEd previously disclosed that approximately 21 million students have registered for the academic year 2023-2024. In contrast, the agency has noted that only slightly over 100,000 of the 300,000-plus school buildings are in satisfactory condition.

Recognizing the transformative potential of education for local communities, SM Foundation has actively participated in DepEd's Adopt-a-School Program since 2002, donating more than 100 school buildings to underserved communities across the country. This program aims to tackle issues like school overcrowding and create a conducive learning environment.