MANILA, Philippines — To help solve the problem on the shortage of school furniture and at the same time create livelihood opportunities, the Department of Education (DepEd) has partnered with three government agencies for the implementation of the “P-Noy Bayanihan, a Partnership for Education and Livelihood” project.

Along with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), DepEd will “oversee the conversion of confiscated logs and lumber as well as the conversion of legally-sourced lumber into school furniture.”

“As part of our mandate to provide quality education for all Filipinos, we have received clear and emphatic marching orders from President Benigno Aquino III to fast-track the measures in addressing the learning resource gaps for almost 25 million children under our care,” Education Secretary Armin Luistro said. “And we recognize that challenging task requires partnerships and engagement of the various stakeholders, hence we greatly appreciate this initiative from various partners,” he added.

Through a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), the project will get over P100 million funding from PAGCOR as response to the Memorandum Order signed by President Aquino directing the DENR, DepEd, TESDA and PAGCOR to work together to fast-track the production of school furniture out of confiscated logs. The P100-million funding is for the retrofitting of TESDA and DepEd facilities or for the establishment of the production sites, including the initial operating expenses.

According to PAGCOR CEO Cristino Naguiat, the P-Noy Bayanihan Project intends to help solve the problem on the shortage of school furniture like desks and chairs out of the confiscated logs of DENR and intensify the efforts of the government to curb illegal sources.

TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva added that the project will create livelihood opportunities through the conversion of confiscated logs. “We will be setting up at least 10 productions sites with wood manufacturing facilities will be installed.”

Villanueva said that the agency will have links to registered forest plantations, including those governmentbacked forestry programs by upland communities, for their wood supply.

“Our intervention here is to provide training to wood makers who will turn these hot logs into useful furniture such as tables, chairs and cabinets for our public schools who badly need them,” Villanueva said.