TACLOBAN CITY - The vision to touch the lives of thousands of young minds across the province through sufficient supply of school books will be made possible as more than 200,000 books are set to be distributed to various elementary and high schools in Leyte’s First District.
This through a project initiated by Congresswoman Remedios “Matin” Petilla with the Books for the Barrios Foundation, a philanthropic organization shipping hundreds of thousands of books, educational materials, school textbooks, computers, science kits, toys and games, athletic equipment and consumable school supplies across the country.
According to Cong. Petilla, this would be among her last meaningful projects before she ends her term this June, recognizing the need for books and general references for elementary and high school students in the district.
The more than 200,000 books received by the district came in 446 boxes, carrying about 470 books for each box covering varying subject areas, from California, USA where the foundation is located.
The district shouldered the payment for the freight and handling of these books from the US to Leyte, which are now being sorted out for distribution to school recipients soon.
Reportedly, school recipients would be assessed as to what school has the immediate need for such books.
“The books will be distributed kon hain gud iton nanginginahanglan. There are already recommendations and hopefully matagan naton tanan nga schools para magsarahid ini hira ha First District,” Cong. Petilla said.
Cong. Petilla added the Books for the Barrios Foundation first had this project in Carigara town some years back when she was still governor of the province.
The pilot project undertaken in Carigara proved to be successful prompting the foundation to offer another donation this time for the First District of Leyte.
Books for the Barrios is a foundation that started with a simple project which was to organize American schoolchildren to gather, ship and distribute books, computers, typewriters and educational aids from America to the Philippines while helping protect the environment in California by recycling its books and educational materials that are normally just discarded in dump sites.
That vision gave birth to the Books for the Barrios Foundation and have sent over 4 million books across the Philippine archipelago including Leyte province.
