Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced a partnership with BDO Unibank Inc. and Friends of Hope Inc. (HOPE) to accelerate classroom construction across the country through a 'zero-cost-to-government' fundraising initiative. The collaboration aims to address the classroom shortage in public schools nationwide.

According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative was formalized with the launch of the BDO HOPE Mastercard, a program designed to generate funds for public school classrooms with each usage of the card. Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that this initiative represents a significant step toward reducing the classroom gap that may otherwise persist for decades.

BDO Senior Vice President Ma. Nannette Regala highlighted the collaboration's goal to provide Filipino learners with the necessary environment to foster growth and achievement. The partnership ensures that every transaction using the new BDO HOPE Mastercard results in contributions towards DepEd-validated classroom buildings, focusing on public schools.

BDO Unibank will contribute PHP5 to the classroom fund for every PHP1,000 spent using the card, along with a portion of the annual membership fees. The bank will also cover all costs related to the card's development, production, and marketing, and manage the processing and remittance of donations. DepEd will be responsible for selecting schools and ensuring compliance with national standards.

Education Secretary Angara expressed optimism, stating that each card swipe brings renewed hope to learners across the nation.