Building Schools for A Better Future: Rotary’s Shared Social Responsibility

Statistics show that as far back as the 1990s, the extreme shortage of classrooms for public schools in the Philippines has been a serious concern. This has forced the education sector to adopt multiple shifts to accommodate the ever-increasing number of students due to population growth, funding, and unavailability of building sites, let alone damage from natural calamities, if not due to wear and tear. As of early 2026, the Philippines faces a shortage of approximately 165,000 classrooms in public schools, according to the 2025 comprehensive national assessment of the country through EDCOM II.

Consequently, the Department of Education has been tasked with the responsibility of securing resources to make public schools competitive, and is now calling for the intervention of non-government organizations like Rotary clubs in addressing the dire shortage of school rooms.

It is against this backdrop that the members of the Rotary Club of Metro Valenzuela felt the urge to assume their share of social and civic responsibility by establishing a common fund they aptly called "Build the Future, Build Schools Program" from their collective resources and fundraising events to build modest DepEd standard 2-classroom school buildings in the

communities where the facility will be awarded, with the recipient education community contributing their labor at nominal cost as their equity in the project.

To this day, this club prides itself with the funding and completion of a grand total of twelve (12) school building projects in the last two decades, projects that benefit thousands of pupils and their families in the countryside- building not only schools but most of all character necessary for a progressive community.

Rotary Year School Projects Completed Classrooms:

RY 2024-2025

- Sto. Tomas Elementary School, Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur - 2 classrooms

RY 2023-2024

- Marinduque Vocational Technical Training Center, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque - 1 classroom

- Gen T. De Leon Day Care Center, Valenzuela City - 1 classroom

RY 2019-2020

- Canlaon Mountain School (Global Grant No. 2093681, May 31, 2020), Sitio Matagbak, Brgy. Masulog, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental - 2 classrooms

- Magwawa Day Care Center, Sitio Magwawa, Brgy. Marilog, Calinan, Davao City - 1 classroom

RY 2018-2019

- Clemente Borja Memorial High School, Sagbayan, Bohol - 2 classrooms

RY 2017-2018

- Cambas-ac Elementary School, Dapa, Siargao, Surigao Del Norte - 2 classrooms

RY 2014-2015

- San Agustin Elementary School, San Luis, Pampanga - 2 classrooms

RY 2011-2012

- San Nicolas Elementary School, San Simon, Pampanga - 2 classrooms

RY 2010-2011

- Paso de Blas Elementary School, Valenzuela City - 2 classrooms

RY 2009-2010

- Cabugao Integrated School, Bato, Catanduanes - 3 classrooms

RY 2005-2006

- Aulo Elementary School, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija - 1 classroom

Each school building is constructed of reinforced concrete and CHBs under pre-painted long span GI roof, with gender- separated toilet facilities, plumbing and electrical installation, occupied primarily as school classrooms and evacuation centers during calamities.

Needless to say, the club has the exclusive right to put its emblem and Rotary’s Four-Way Test logos in any conspicuous place or space within the building, to enhance Rotary's public image, and to instill into the minds of the students of Rotary’s enduring adherence to ethical standards in human relations

After all, as Rotarians, we do not only build schools, we build character that matters most to society.

Written by: Past President Dave Santos, Rotary Club of Metro Valenzuela