Troops delight pupils with back-to-school gifts in Puerto Princesa

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 2): Troops delight pupils with back-to-school gifts in Puerto Princesa

Troops surprised pupils from two public elementary schools in the rural barangays of this city when they brought backpacks stuffed with much-needed school supplies for Monday’s opening of classes.

School heads were surprised when they were handed a computer set and garbage bins to be used.

The donations were given to help Maoyon Elementary School and Babuyan Central School, according to Air Force major Oliver Bañaria, acting civil military operations chief or U7.

"These donations really help us parents because of the staggering prices of school supplies," said Elmer Magdayao, president of the parents-teachers association of Maoyon Elementary School. "We really appreciate the efforts of the Western Command."

By and large, the new supplies will help the children with their studies.

"The best thing that we like is our kids are doing good and they are getting an education here," Magdayao said. "The teachers are teaching them good education and we are really happy with that."

The computer set was one of the many computer sets donated by the Quezon City-based Rotary Club of Loyola Heights, while the garbage bins were recycled empty fuel drums of the Palawan-based Air Force, the 570th Composite Tactical Wing.

On the other hand, the Palawan-based Armed Forces, the Western Command, donated the back packs, pencils, crayons, glue, notebooks, erasers, sharpeners, writing pads, pencil colors, and new slippers through the U7 office.

"We are very grateful for the donations from the Western Command," said Elma G. Bungar, principal of Maoyon Elementary School. "We have children here that live in poverty, come to school without school supplies and are less fortunate than other kids that have parents that work."

"Donating those school supplies to these schools made me feel good because we're able to help them out in a time of need," said Army Staff Sergeant Arnel Corpuz, a non-commissioned officer under the 6th Civil Relations Group where Maj. Banaria is assigned as commander. "The Western Command tries to do this every year before school starts, and we also help out with their tree planting, classroom repair and repainting, and other programs that we supply volunteers for."

When military units are active in the community, it helps foster great working relationships.

Corpuz said, "Programs like this strengthen the bond between the military installations and the local community and this is one of the reasons that we participate."

The activity was part of the "Bag at Notebook Mo, Sagot ng Sundalo Mo" project of the civil military operations unit of the Western Command.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=530216