Five cement companies belonging to the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) have been involved in community-based education-related projects ranging from free school supplies, scholarship grants, and building schoolhouses.

Departing from their traditional role in infrastructure development, these cement firms are “helping create a more intelligent citizenry” said CeMAP president Ernesto Ordonez.

The cement firms at the forefront of promoting educational efforts are : Lafarge, Holcim, Cemex, Pacific Cement and Taiheiyo.

Lafarge associated companies, for instance, built two schoolhouses in Sitio Banahaw in Norzagaray, Bulacan in line with its Social Development Management Programs (SDMP).

Lafarge also spearheaded, a program called “Earthbag Schools” a Mindanao trend-setting project. Instead of using hollow blocks, earthbag schools used compacted soil packed in plastic bags. The materials are held together by cement and steel bars. This program is Lafarge’s joint project with Ateneo-based ABAKADA Foundation, the Japanese Embassy and the local government of Surigao.

Recently, Lafarge also partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) in its rehabilitation project for the Teacher’s Camp in Baguio City, the country’s premier training institution for our public school teachers. The Teacher’s Camp is celebrating its centennial this year.

Lafarge associated companies have also expanded its SDMP to cover the introduction of livelihood projects and scholarship grants in its host communities in Norzagaray, Bulacan, Teresa town in Rizal, Batangas and Iligan City.

Holcim Philippines, Inc. has its WIWAG® Business Weeks and “Galing Mason” programs designed to hone the skills of undergraduate students and masons, respectively.

WIWAG® is a five-day hands-on training program in business management based on a computer-assisted business simulation game.

The program enables the students to gain vital insights in finance, human resources, research and development, production, and marketing, with licensed global volunteer instructors provided by Holcim and its partner-companies.

On the other hand, Holcim’s “Galing Mason” program, a certified seven-day vocational training course to improve skills of untrained masons, is done in collaboration with the government-run Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Philippine Constructors Association and the Association of Construction and Informal Workers.

CEMEX Philippines and Pacific Cement have their respective Adopt-a School Programs which provide service and training facilities to public elementary schools in Antipolo City and Cebu.

The program also involved the construction of computer laboratories, libraries, and comfort rooms, as well as renovation of classrooms and drainage systems.

CEMEX Philippines Foundation’s Adopt-a-School program has been running for close to three years only, but it has helped at least six (6) public elementary schools and has helped a total of – students in the community.

In partnership with Sa Aklat Sisikat Foundation, Inc., CEMEX Foundation also spearheaded reading programs in its adopted schools.

As an offshoot of its monthly Isang Lapis, Isang Papel program, the CEMEX Philippines Foundation, Inc. currently distributes school bags and textbooks to students in its adopted schools.

Pacific Cement has been implementing the same concept for its adopted schools in host communities in Surigao Del Norte for more than 10 years. Pacific Cement has also donated cement for the construction of classrooms using ‘earth bag’ technology.

For its part, Taiheiyo Cement Philippines, Inc. maintains 47 scholars under its wings.

Now on its fourth year, the company’s scholarship program is offered to Valedictorians and honor graduates of public schools in San Fernando, Cebu.

Since 1994, Taiheiyo has been awarding medals to honor students in 21 barangays in San Fernando every year.

Taiheiyo is also collaborating with the Cebu provincial government in constructing two-classroom elementary and high school buildings throughout the province, completed in time for the opening of class this year.