Republic Act 9525 known as “Adopt-A-School Act of 1998 allows private entities to assist a public school in a particular aspect of its educational program within an agreed period.

     The government allots the biggest share of the national budget to public basic education, but the amount still cannot keep up with the increasing student   population. There are even more children who are out on the streets and who have to be shepherded into the schools, but government  resources are simply not enough to provide them the free, quality education to which they are all entitled.

    We need generous hearts in the private sector to realize the spirit of Republic Act 8525 or the Adopt-A-School Act, enacted in 1998 for the very purpose of providing a venue for the strong and dynamic private sector to participate in nation-building through investments in the education of Filipino children. The rewards of such investments come through an educated generation that will succeed ours, run our enterprises, and steer this nation to greater heights.

    Over the years, DepEd introduced interventions to reduce student dropouts and keep the youth off the streets. It has sought to increase student achievement levels and improve teacher performance. It continues to bring the issues and needs of public education to every Filipino who cares, in an effort to invite each and everyone to help boost education opportunities for our young.

    DepEd, through the Adopt-A-School Program (ASP), sincerely invites all members of private entities to accept our offer of active partnership in the noble goal of educating all Filipinos. Education is the key to national growth.

    With Adopt-A-School, each Filipino can have the opportunity to enjoy his right to education, to open his eyes to the wonders and challenges of the world, to pursue his dreams, and to contribute capably towards the nation’s progress.

Every Filipino child deserves to finish school.
Every Filipino deserves the benefits of an education.
This nation needs an educated citizenry.
There are many ways by which you can help.

ADOPT-A- SCHOOL PROGRAM PACKAGES
    INFRASTRUCTURE, PHYSICAL FACILITIES, FURNITURE, AND REAL STATE
     The construction of additional classrooms will decongest our crowded public schools and provide more substantial school hours for the children. Badly-needed charis, desks, blackboards, computer laboratories, wash facilities, water systems and toilets must also be provided, and these will likely create a physical environment that is conducive for learning.

    LEARNING SUPPORT
      Our private-sector partners can give public school children exciting and dynamic opportunities for learning at the larger world outside of school by sponsoring relevant field trips. Students and teachers will also benefit from audio-visual educational materials such as e-books, educational films, e-libraries, and non-digital teaching aids such as pop-up materials and colored illustrations.

    HEALTH AND NUTRITION
     Appropriate remedies for the health and nutrition problems of public school children will help improve students’ school performance and learning retention. Our partners can sponsor feeding programs, essential health care programs, medical-dental missions, deworming interventions, and the provision of vitamins, nutritional supplements, eye check-ups and eyeglasses to students and teachers.

    READING PRGRAMS
     By providing books and supplementary reading materials to our public school children, we open up a rich world of information to them and help develop the habit of reading, a key to improving academic performance.

    TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
    We welcome the private sector’s continuing support in promoting DepEd’s imperative thrust to integrate fast-changing technology within basic education. Laptops, computers, internet connectivity, television sets, DVDs, and e-learning materials are always needed to make classroom instruction interactive and effective.

    DIRECT ASSISTANCE
     School supplies, stipends, and other forms of financial and material assistance may be extended to public school children to alleviate their parents’ financial burden and obligations.

    TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
     Private sector groups and individuals can extend assistance not only to schoolchildren but also to their teachers. Sponsoring training programs in teacher education institutions will greatly help our teachers gain relevant skills that will update their knowledge and increase their effectiveness in the classrooms.

    ASSISTIVE LEARNING DEVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
      Assistive learning devices are used to increase or improve the functional capabilities of a child with special needs. These range from no-tech devices (pencil grips, dry-erase boards, special chairs, picture cards) to mid-tech (tape recorders, spelling-check devices, overhead projectors) and hi-tech devices (software, computerized systems, specialized keyboards and peripheral devices).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    What are the benefits in adopting entity can avail of under the Adopt-A-School Program?
    Active involvement in the program can be mutually beneficial to both parties concerned. While DepEd gets its schools improved, adopting private entity in return, may obtain tax incentives, strengthened corporate image and goodwill within the school community.

    Where can a private entity obtain the certification/endorsement so that it can avail of the tax incentives as provided for under the Adopt-a-school Law?
      The private entity should request an endorsement from the DepEd Central Office in Pasig thru the Adopt-a-School Secretariat. The endorsement is approved by DepEd.

    What are the requirements needed by the Revenue District Office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in considering the application of the private entity for tax incentives?
       The private entity applying for tax incentives must submit the following:
1.    Duly notarized/ approved Agreement
2.    Duly notarized Deed of Donation
3.    Official receipts showing the actual value of the donation, and
4.    Certificate of title and tax declaration (if the donation is in the form of real property).

    For donations coming from overseas, what are the documents required to avail of duty-free entry of goods?
    The documents required prior to the issuance of duty-free certification by DepEd and the Department of Finance (DOF) are the following:
From the Donor
      Bill of lading, Air Waybill, Parcel Notice, other shipping documents, Commercial Invoice and Packing List
From the Donee
      Notarized Deed of Donation, Deed of Acceptance, and Memorandum of Agreement (or Memorandum of Understanding)

    Who can help?
     Any private individual, group, organization or institution can become partners in education. There are however, basic qualifications of participants to the Program.
    A private entity that intends to participate should have a credible track record to be supported by a certificate of registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or with the Cooperative development Authority (CDA).
     The private entity should have been in existence for at least a year.

    What assistance can be provided?
     The program carries a menu of options called packages that a stakeholder can select from. Packages range from building classrooms, laboratories, staff development, and nutrition program, e-learning, to the provision of instructional materials. The packages are designed to meet the school’s needs in accordance with the private sector’s capacity and thrusts.

    Which schools need assistance?
     Any government school, whether elementary, secondary, post-secondary or tertiary preferably located in any of the current poorest provinces/municipalities can avail of the donations under the program. Priority shall be given to schools located in the poorest provinces as determined by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NCSB), low income municipalities and other schools with undernourished learners, poor but high performing learners, severe classroom shortage, insufficient budget or funds and/or deficient in number of textbooks and instructional materials.

    How will recipient schools be selected?
     The adopting private entity has the prerogative of identifying the school of its choice, as well as the area and geographic location where it wishes to place its support. In case the adopting private entity has no particular school in mind, any of the three education agencies will provide the adopting entity a list of priority schools and their identified needs.

ADOPTION PROCEDURES
     Schools can be adopted by an individual, group, another school, company, foundation or organization.

     The Adopt-A-School secretariat shall facilitate the linkage between the adopting individual and the target school.

The Secretariat will provide the adopting entity with different adoption packages and the list of prospective schools with their corresponding needs.

     The adopted schools shall sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the adopting private entity. The MOA shall specify the terms and conditions of the adoption including the tasks and responsibilities of the private entity and the school.

The parties involved in the signing of the MOA will be the adopting entity and the head of the school concerned. In cases where the adopting entity adopts multiple schools in a certain division, a MOA shall be facilitated between the adopting entity and the corresponding DepEd official. For a school located within a particular Division, the Schools Division Superintendent will be the official signatory;  for regional project coverage, the Regional Director; and for projects that are national in scope, the Secretary of Education shall sign the MOA.

The MOA will be subject for review and approval by the Adopt-A-School Secretariat. The Agreement shall last two years with the possibility of extension.

BRIGADA ESKWELA BEST IMPLEMENTER 2015
 

DIVISION LEVEL

ELEMENTARY

Small School        - Talao – Talao Elementary School
Big School        - South I Elementary School
Exceptional School    - Lucena East III Elementary School

SECONDARY

Small School        - Mayao Parada Extension National High School
Big School        - Gulang-Gulang National High School
Exceptional School    - Lucena City National High School

RESPONSIBILITIES OF ADOPT-A-SCHOOL PROGRAM COORDINATORS
1.    Identify potential partnering entities which could be engaged in supporting  the priority programs and projects of DepEd. 

a.    Find the right partner
i.    Must have a credible track record  as an organization  or their work in the community 
ii.    Must not be involved in illegal activities 
iii.    Must have thrusts   which  are aligned  with the values and principles which  DepEd promotes. 

2.    Establish and maintain database of information which are essential for project  planning and implementation. 

3.    Provide guidance to schools, partners and stakeholders on implementation of  programs and projects, based on existing policies and guidelines.

4.    Coordinate and facilitate the delivery of the support to the intended beneficiaries as scheduled. 

5.    Facilitate the review and approval of the Memorandum of Agreement or/and Memorandum of Understanding . 

6.    Coordinate with the ASP Secretariat regarding the review, approval and endorsement of the donor’s application for availment of tax incentives to the Revenue District Office.

7.    Coordinate, facilitate and supervise  the conduct of Brigada Eskwela activities. 

8.    Ensure proper recording of donated properties by coordinating with the Supply Officers and /or School Property Custodian.

9.    Use ASP funds in activities set in the budget utilization guidelines .
Prepare and submit liquidation report to the Central Office. 

10.    Consolidate and submit report on generated resources  to  the ASP Secretariat , on a regular basis .