TURNOVER OF BOOKS. Photo shows (from left): Saint Paul University Philippines president, Sr. Remy Angela Junio, SPC; Asia Foundation assistant country representative Ky Johnson; Tuguegarao City Mayor Randolph Sera Ting; Books for Asia director Efren Balajadia; and Cagayan Governor Edgar Ramones Lara

PROMOTING QUALITY EDUCATION

Taking an active part in promoting the importance of education and literacy in Asia, The Asia Foundation through its Books for Asia program and in partnership with World Bank Knowledge Development Centers (WB-KDC) of selected private and state universities recently turned over books at St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP) in Tuguegarao City.

Tracing the program's existence since 1954, it has already dispensed more than 40 million books and journals to more than 50,000 academic and non-academic institutions throughout Asia. The Philippines alone has been a recipient of 13 million books and journals which were distributed to public and private institutions across the country.

Spearheading the ceremony were Ky Johnson, assistant country representative of The Asia Foundation and Books for Asia director Efren Balajadia with Dr. Oscar Turingan, coordinator of SPUP World Bank, Knowledge for Development Centers (KDC).

"The goal of the Foundation is to reap good relationship among Americans and the people in Asia through the book program. The book exchange is a good medium to a good relationship because people in the US can learn something about the people in Asia," Johnson says.

SPUP president, Sr. Remy Angela Junio, SPC expresses, "We are indeed very lucky to receive new books, which range from elementary to university level of various public areas of administration. In which your students and teachers can use in their teachings and learning activities."

On the other hand, Tuguegarao City Mayor Randolph Sera Ting expressed gratitude to the Foundation for considering their province to be one of the recipients of the P3 million worth of books that was distributed to different public and private schools.

Donations of books for this program were largely made possible through contributions of American publishers, libraries, bookstores, wholesalers, and other private organizations.

Through a network of 18 offices throughout Asia, the foundation’s in-country staff work directly with local educators, librarians, and research professionals to ensure donated materials address local needs, are well maintained, and are widely available.

"As of the fiscal year 2004 – 2005, they have already given out more than 97,000 books and other reading materials all over the country. We are concentrating more on the far-flung areas like Mindanao, Samar, Bicol, Regions I, II, and the Cordillera region," Balajadia tells.

Books are being given to schools through the school's own request. The schools are asked to make a request letter or get a request form at the Foundation’s office coming from the principal for public schools. Although it is much stricter for private schools, a permit should accompany the request, coming from either Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) or Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Like any other program, Balajadia admits facing problem in terms of lack of partners and sponsors.

"The partners and sponsors are the one helping the schools that requests from the foundation and shoulders expenses such as shipping. Due to this, distribution of the books per year dropped from 500,000 to 100,000 per year, which is also their minimum goal," Balajadia relates.

The program's partners range from non-government organizations (NGOs), local government units, to private organizations.

"Although the government supports the public school system here, the lack of fund is always a big problem," Balajadia ends.