Latter-day Saint Charities Receives Recognition for Contributions to DepEd in Virtual Ceremony

Latter-day Saint Charities (LDSC), the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd) for its contributions and support to DepEd’s Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) and Brigada Eskwela program in the 2020 BE-LCP Virtual Partners’ Appreciation program held on May 14, 2021. The program was held with the theme, “Celebrating Partnership Amidst Pandemic.”

LDSC was acknowledged for donations made to multiple public schools DepEd in support of the Department’s BE-LCP initiative which ensures that learning opportunities are made continually available to Filipino students amidst the pandemic. The donations made to the Department included printers, photocopiers, televisions and consumable supplies such as paper and paper ink for the printing of remote learning modules to be distributed to learners for use at home in a remote learning environment. Other donations included movable sinks and hygiene stations for use at school in preparation for the eventual return to face-to-face classes.

A plaque of appreciation was awarded to each of the 139 partners of DepEd in its implementation of the BE-LCP, and was presented to the partner organizations virtually. In attendance on behalf of LDSC at the event were Elder Steven R. Bangerter, First Counselor of the Philippines Area Presidency; Elder Jairus Perez, Country Director of LDSC; and Haidi Fajardo, Director of the Church Communication Department of the Church in the Philippines.

Addressing the attendees of the event and the partners, Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, DepEd Secretary, said, “We are very grateful for your continued support, for never, never abandoning us... Your continued support, your love, your sympathy has been a source of inspiration to us as we strive to continue, as we strive to respond to the call to the Constitution for quality education for all learners.”

Secretary Briones acknowledged the longstanding and important role of religious organizations in making education more accessible in the Philippines. She said, “Let us not forget that this partnership has survived through perhaps a hundred years of cooperation, starting with faith-based organizations who initiated the creation of schools in homes and churches,”

The Church and Education

The Church places great importance on continued secular and spiritual education and works to make both secular and spiritual education more accessible within the communities it is present in through charitable work and partnership with similarly-oriented organizations. LDSC works with partnered organizations to provide solutions to problems and meet needs within local communities that align with its own initiatives.