Some 3,000 individuals from the private and public sectors took part in the 48th Alay Lakad or “walk for a cause” in this city on Wednesday to help generate tuition money for the province’s out-of-school youth.
In a statement on Thursday, the provincial government said the event managed to generate PHP1.119 million from private and public sector donors.
Some of the notable donors included officers and employees of the Department of Education-Batangas, Philippine National Police, Department of the Interior Local Government, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, National Food Authority, Government Service Insurance System, Commission on Audit, municipal government of Agoncillo, city government of Sto. Tomas, Batangas State University, University of Batangas, SM City Batangas, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company.
Mataas na Kahoy town Vice Mayor Jay Ilagan, who is also the president of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines-Batangas Chapter, donated PHP300,000.
The provincial government, through Governor Hermilando Mandanas, added PHP500,000 to the contribution.
Mandanas said the event is a symbol of solidarity with all the youth in the province, especially those who do not attend formal schooling.
“This event signifies that we shall walk with each other and no one will be left behind in the province of Batangas,” he said.
Mandanas said the provincial government has over 45,000 scholars, for which it spends more than PHP400 million in annual academic assistance, the largest budget for education in all the provinces in the country.
Dr. Tirso Ronquillo, president of Batangas Province Alay Lakad Foundation, Inc. (BPALF), said this year’s activity themed “Ituloy ang Lakad para sa Kabataan,” marked the collaborative effort of every sector to provide a better future to the youth.
“Our program includes scholarship, skills training and leadership training. We believe that investment in youth will truly last for everyone,” he said in his message at the start of the “Alay Lakad” in the Capitol compound.
Ronquillo said the contributions to the foundation will benefit the youth who do not have enough capacity to continue with their studies and to finance training conducted by the group. (PNA)
