The Adopt-A-School Program (ASP) of the Department of Education (DepEd) has generated some P7.3 billion worth of commitments from the private sector in 2009 since its re-launch in 2006.

DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus said that the amount raised from P6 billion in 2008 speaks of the commitment of our private sector partners and the priority they give to education. “The private-public partnership we have sustained through Adopt-A-School will further benefit our public schools and help the department deliver quality education services our schoolchildren rightfully deserve.”

Lapus also added that through the program, DepEd has inked more than 400 partnerships with private sector corporations, non-government and civic organizations.

The donor with the largest contribution in 2009 was Knowledge Channel, which donated educational television (ETV) facilities and infrastructure to public schools. The 10-year partnership aims to enhance the teaching and learning processes with the use of ETV.

From P400 million worth of pledges in 2006 from the private sector, ASP has become the department’s second biggest resource generating mechanism next to the approved DepEd budget. (Ina Hernando-Malipot)