Cebuana Lhuillier partners with Department of Education

Cebuana Lhuillier partners with Department of Education. In photo: (l-r) Atty. Cesar Vidal; Executive Trustee and General Manager, Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Inc., Dr. Luz Almeda; Dep-Ed Regional Director, Mr. Jean Henri Lhuillier; Cebuana Lhuillier president and Chief Executive Officers, Dr. FreddieAvendano; Assistant Schools Division Superintendent and Ms. Thelma Co; Principal, Cubao Elementary School.

Thousands of out-of-school youth and adults have re-started their education journey when Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of the Philippine’s largest microfinancial company, and the Department of Education (DepEd) inaugurated the 16 DepEd-Cebuana Lhuillier ALS Community Learning Centers (DE-CL ALS CLCs), implementing DepEd’s Alternative Learning System (ALS) program.

CLFI donated P2 million for the procurement of teaching equipment and reproduction of learning modules and materials for the program, which aims to provide alternative basic education for more than 1,300 out-of-school youth and adults, with the end-goal of getting a high school diploma and enabling them to pursue higher education or get a college degree.

Recently, Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier and DepEd officials led the inauguration of the learning center in Cubao Elementary School in Quezon City.

“We are happy to see these projects come to fruition. The program is an excellent medium to give young people and adults alike another chance to get basic education, notwithstanding their current financial situation. It gives people hope that they will get a better life through education,” said Lhuillier.

“Cebuana Lhuillier is now moving towards offering our products and services directly to the people, and the alternative learning program complements that direction. Our CSR thrust is focused on giving people opportunities to have basic education through the alternative learning system. After graduating from high school, we can also provide them with a college scholarship grant through our scholarships program which we have been implementing since 2001,” added Lhuillier.

“We are grateful for the valuable contribution that Cebuana Lhuillier extended to the alternative learning program. Through private-public partnerships, the government is able to more efficiently offer the people the benefits of free education, and open more educational opportunities for Filipino citizens of different interests, capabilities of demographic characteristics, socioeconomic origins and status as well as addressing the needs of marginalized groups,” said DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro.