Leyte students show their thanks for their new school building

The turnover of the new 2-storey, 4-classroom school building by project partners SM Foundation, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) was met with cheers and smiles of gratitude from the students of San Roque Elementary School in Tanauan, Leyte on February 27, 2015.

PSE President Hans Sicat and the students of San Roque Elementary School

The new school building includes 200 student armchairs, 16 wall fans, eight blackboards and four teachers’ desk sets. In addition to this, each classroom is also equipped with its own restroom. The armchairs, teachers’ tables and books were donated by Rotarians from different countries through Past District Governor Robert Kuan of Rotary International, District 3830. Additional books were also donated by Zonta Club.

The area of Tanauan was heavily stricken during Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in November 2013. Due to Yolanda’s magnitude, all the classrooms of San Roque Elementary School were damaged and classes for the succeeding months were held in tents to accommodate the school’s 713 students.

Aside from the new school building, students were also given books by PSE as well as hygiene packs that contain hand towels, shampoo, soap, baby powder, and dental care products.

The San Roque Elementary School building is SM Foundation’s 67th school building donated since its program started in 2002. It is also part of its Yolanda Rehabilitation Program, an initiative to help rebuild the calamity-stricken area of the Visayas.