Bravo Filipino | HOPE, DepEd, and top brands team up to ease classroom shortage
MAKATI CITY — Responding to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to bridge the classroom gap, the Department of Education (DepEd) has joined forces with HOPE and several major brands to expand efforts in building learning spaces across the country.
Through the Generation HOPE program, companies such as BDO, SM, Penshoppe, Grab, Aivee, Carmen’s Best, and Sunnies will contribute a portion of their product and service sales to fund new classrooms. DepEd officials said the initiative complements ongoing government efforts under public-private partnership (PPP) schemes.
“Sa tulong ng HOPE at ng ating mga private partners, nais naming patunayan na kapag nagkaisa ang pribado at pampublikong sektor, mas mabilis nating matutupad ang pangarap na walang batang naiwan sa edukasyon,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said during the program’s launch.
He added, “Let us keep planting these seeds of hope in every space where a child dares to dream. Because in Bagong Pilipinas, hope is not something we wait for but rather something we build together.”
The classrooms under the HOPE program measure 7 by 9 meters and are built to withstand typhoons and extreme weather. Each is equipped with basic facilities including a chalkboard, teacher’s desk, wall fans, wide windows for ventilation, a high ceiling for airflow, and a toilet.
Philanthropist Nanette Medved-Po, who founded HOPE in 2012, emphasized that the initiative allows ordinary Filipinos to take part in nation-building through everyday purchases. “Filipinos always come together in times of need. In a world that is increasingly divided, let’s harness that power every day to support something we can all agree on: investing in the youth of this country to build a nation and ensure a brighter future,” she said.
To date, HOPE has completed 144 classrooms serving over 52,000 students. Its community-driven programs also include farmer support, seedling distribution, and plastic waste diversion.
