Filipinos everywhere are challenged to mobilize resources for the construction of 10,000 classrooms in the next ten months, as part of a multi-sector, multi-stakeholder movement.

"Nung ginagawa namin kase 'tong konsepto ng TEN MOVES, meron isang mayaman na philantrophist na sabi, bakit pa kayo mag-te-TEN MOVES? Dalawang milyon? Ang hirap-hirap nyan" said DepEd Secretary Bor. Armin Luistro. "Maghanap nalang tayo ng mga top corporations, top riches Filipinos, at tsaka yung mga top taxpayers. Tapos, mabilis lang, if you want to raise six millions. Pero, Actually I was very dissappointed nung lumapit kami sa philanthropist na yun kase we we're hoping na he could support"


"Pero after nung marinig ko yun, I felt,I wanted like to take on the the challenge. Sabi ko sa grupo namin sa TEN Moves, sayang naman. Gusto kong patunayan na ordinary Filipinos and not just the rich & the powerful, could improve the Philippines. Gusto kong sabihin na mas generous ang mas mahihirap and the middle class. Hindi ko alam kung ako yung mananalo o kakainin ko yung salita ko o yung philantropist na nagsabi sakin na "Wala yan." Pero gusto kong gamitin yun sunod na sampung buwan, para patunayan na mas makapangyarihan pa rin yung mahihirap kapag sila ay nag work together." Luistro declares.

BLOG-PH.com asks on what is his reaction to the response of the people that TEN Moves already got more than 2 million pesos even before the grand launch?

Actually di pa nga namin na [nala-launch] and kaya kampante ako dahil pinaguusapan palang namin ni Mario Deriquito to, pag nabanggit ko tong project sa mga kaibigan to, nagbibigay kaagad sila. Kaya tayo gumagawa ng marketing at mga campaign drive, zero budget. So, lahat ng ginamit sa campaign na 'to ay galing to those who donated and believed in this campaign. Masayang-masaya kami dun and I believed kayang kaya natin i-sustain. said Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro.


TEN Moves, an initiative spearheaded by the 57-75 Movement, led by the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), and in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), was launched to the public today. The program calls for Filipinos to contribute ten pesos each day for ten months, or a total of three thousand pesos, for the construction of 10,000 more classrooms in two years.

The DepEd estimates that for the school year of 2011-2012, there is a shortage of approximately 66,800 classrooms in the country, a figure that is based on the ideal teacher-to-student ratio of 1:40. Among the priority areas that have the greatest need of classrooms are: Pangasinan, Isabela, Batangas, Quezon, Palawan, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Zamboanga del Sur, and North Cotabato.

The shortage of classrooms fuels other challenges within the sector, including: the decrease in participation rates among elementary and high school students; an increase in drop-out rates; and poor student performance. In response, the DepEd has intensified its efforts by implementing programs that include the provision of much-needed classrooms.


In spite of this, government resources alone remain insufficient to address resource gaps. As such, the DepEd has embarked on a partnership with the 57-75 Movement to achieve a shared goal of enhancing the state of Philippine basic education, primarily through addressing the need for more classrooms. “We are calling on all Filipinos to work with us in bridging resource gaps, especially the task of addressing the classroom shortage, which is a critical step in providing enhanced opportunities for millions of Filipino children”, shares Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC.

Since the campaign’s launch among the private sector last July, the campaign has gathered over Php2.5 million in donations through individual donations as well as corporate pledges of employee mobilization and support. “The government needs our support in implementing reforms in the education sector,” notes LCF trustee and past president Cecile Alcantara. “The private sector and the communities must work together in mobilizing local resources and energies in order to improve access to education for millions of Filipino children. It is the future of our children and our country at stake if education challenges remain unanswered. As such, we must all do our share to guarantee access to education for our nation’s children.


“We recognize that the private sector is in a unique position to help in this cause by providing specific institutional and resource mobilization capabilities,” notes PBSP executive director Rapa Lopa. “We also understand that there is untapped potential among ordinary citizens, and it is our goal to engage them in providing our children with the resources they deserve.”

The campaign’s name is not just a reminder of the small amount that each Filipino can contribute daily, but it is also a call for “The Entire Nation” to move and contribute resources to address one of the most critical challenges facing our Education sector.

LET US DONATE!

Individuals may contribute to the TEN Moves campaign in the following ways: bank deposits to any BPI, BDO, or UnionBank branches; online donations via credit card at the TEN Moves website at www.tenmoves.org; and via mobile through G-Cash. More donation channels will be made available as the campaign progresses. The youth are also encouraged to mobilize their friends and networks by influencing their circles of family and friends to pool in resources for the campaign.

The organizers of TEN Moves are optimistic about the power in harnessing and mobilizing National support towards their goals, “When we combine individual efforts, the impact that we can make toward enhancing education opportunities for millions of Filipino schoolchildren can be tremendous,” states LCF education committee chairperson Mario Deriquito.

For more information on TEN Moves and on the ways to support the advocacy, please visit www.tenmoves.org.