Nestlé Philippines and the Department of Education (DepEd) formalized today an agreement that will reinforce the implementation of the government’s Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) nationwide. Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones and Nestlé Philippines Chairman and CEO Kais Marzouki led the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) virtual signing ceremony, which strengthens Nestlé Philippines’ support for the DepEd through the provision of online modules and educational kits that will aid in the country’s shift to blended learning.
“The Department of Education is committed to helping our learners to achieve their dreams, and we are thankful to Nestle Philippines in supporting our mission of delivering quality education amidst the pandemic. Their initiative to develop health and wellness within the Filipino family was good support for our learners, parents, and to our teachers,” said Secretary Briones.
“We always welcome assistance that gives importance to the health of our stakeholders and their well-being, and we look forward to more engagements like this as we believe that it will take a nation to educate a child,” she added.
As the current academic year unfolds, the DepEd is in full pursuit of efforts to ensure that students across the Philippines have access to quality education despite the limitations imposed by the pandemic. Mr. Marzouki said, “As the Kasambuhay ng Pamilyang Pilipino, the trusted companion in life of Filipino families, and as a longstanding partner of the Department of Education, we are fully committed to support the BE-LCP, which lays the foundation and direction for the country’s education system at this critical time. Our partnership with the DepEd provides us the opportunity to stay true to our focus of helping raise and educate healthy and well-rounded Filipino children.”
Expanding support, resources for DepEd
Under this MOA, Nestlé Philippines brings together experts to collaborate under the Nestlé Wellness Campus with MILO and Bear Brand Fortified and co-create modules based on the DepEd’s Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs). These modules, according to Mr. Marzouki, will be uploaded on DepEd Commons, making them accessible to all public schools and teachers in the country.
“This MOA reflects how Nestlé Philippines has intensified its partnership with the DepEd by sponsoring over Php 120 million worth of online modules and physical educational and nutrition kits for this school year. We hope to be able to support the teachers, students and parents as they too, level up to adopt a new way of learning,” Mr. Marzouki added.
In addition to preparing modules on healthy habits for children including Solid Waste Management, Nestlé Wellness Campus also produced a Dancercise video. Sports instructional videos were also created in collaboration with MILO and their established sports partners to encourage students to stay active. A Nestlé Wellness Campus Facebook Group for public school teachers will also be launched.
According to Mr. Marzouki, these initiatives further signify Nestlé Philippines’ unwavering commitment to encourage Filipinos, especially young children, to develop health and wellness practices together with their families at home.