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September 24, 2010
MAKATI, Philippines, September 24, 2010 – Chevron Philippines Incorporated (CPI) today inaugurated the San Antonio Community Library in San Antonio Elementary School, San Pascual, Batangas. The library is not just for students but for anyone in the community who is interested in learning and reading. Books were donated from various sources such as CPI employees and project partners Filipinas Heritage Library (FHL).
Aside from updating the library layout and collections, FHL staff also trained the librarians in cataloguing, collection development, preservation, disaster preparedness and management, digitization, and sustainability.
Chevron has long been actively engaging the San Pascual community, host to its Batangas Terminal, with programs that help promote learning and education such as Brigada Eskwela, a school renovation activity, and Caltex Mentor Program (CMP), a volunteer-driven literacy project.
My Library, along with Brigada and CMP, falls under the Energy for Learning (EFL) initiative of Chevron which targets groups who do not have access to mainstream education.
Energy for Learning is a long-term initiative by Chevron and its retail brand, Caltex, to support learning-based programs, which help people acquire new knowledge, gain news skills or be exposed to different ways of thinking.
More than just providing the world with the energy it needs, Chevron also believes that fuelling minds is important if societies and communities are to continue to prosper. Through learning, Chevron believes that individuals will acquire the tools they need to succeed in life, provide for their families and contribute to their communities.
Vic Calimag, Chevron Batangas Terminal Manager, said “Education and training fall within one of the three focus areas of Chevron’s community engagement programs. Chevron believes that learning is important to the social and economic vitality of communities. Whether through formal education, skills development or livelihood training, Chevron believes that with learning, individuals will acquire the tools they need to succeed in life, provide for their families and contribute to their communities.”
“CPI , through its brand Caltex, will continue to partner with the local communities, governments and non-profit groups to make learning opportunities possible for many”, said Calimag.
“San Antonio Community Library is very helpful to our students in doing research. The books here will further develop their ability to read and comprehend.” said San Antonio Elementary School officer-in-charge, Lolita Magbojos. “This library will also be beneficial to high school and college students who can’t afford computers or internet access at home by doing their research at the library. Having this in our community will help our people who are in need of books, various reading materials and Internet access.”
Other EFL Programs
Other projects under EFL are: KAPATID program in General Santos City where out-of-school youths (OSYs) and children-in-conflict-with-law (CICLs) are given free integrated technical skills training and values education, plus help in landing jobs after graduation. Kapatid has so far graduated 337 graduates, 60% of whom already have jobs.
Another program under the EFL is the Loaves and Fishes (L&F) bakery training, which is also in General Santos City. L&F also focuses on molding OSYs and CICLs into better citizens. It has already opened three bakeshops since its inception.
L&F’s predecessor, the Pugad Pandesal project in Makati, advocates the same goals and has achieved considerable success over the years. Known for its scrumptious Pandesal produced by former street kids, the bakeshop now earns up to P70,000 weekly or 10 times more than it used to earn during its initial stages in 2003.
Several schools nationwide have also benefitted from EFL’s CMP, which provides four weekends of extensive and personalized training for non-readers or slow learners. To date, CMP has helped more than 1,600 grade 1& 2 pupils become readers, boasting an average success rate of 80%.
Chevron’s annual participation in the Brigada Eskwela activities is also be a part of the EFL campaign. Chevron has been lending a helping hand to public schools in its host communities for the upkeep of their facilities.
“Kapatid, , Fishes & Loaves, CMP, Brigada Eswela and Pugad Pandesal, and now , the San Antonio Community Library are just some of the 30 learning and education programs Chevron has in Asia alone since 2004. These projects have brought long lasting benefits to many individuals, families and communities,” added Calimag.
About Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies, with subsidiaries that conduct business worldwide. The company’s success is driven by the ingenuity and commitment of approximately 62,000 employees who operate across the energy spectrum. Chevron explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and other energy products; manufactures and sells petrochemical products; generates power and produces geothermal energy; provides energy efficiency solutions; and develops the energy resources of the future, including biofuels and other renewables. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.
Caltex™ is Chevron’s marketing brand in Asia Pacific and parts of the Middle East and Africa. Caltex products and associated brands are sold in approximately 60 countries across these regions. More information on Caltex is available at www.caltex.com.