Gov’t, Jollibee sign deal to turn ‘hot logs’ into school chairs

PAGADIAN CITY - The government’s logs-to-chair project got a major boost with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and two other agencies signing a P2-million deal with fast-food giant Jollibee to produce school chairs out of confiscated logs.

DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje signed recently a memorandum of agreement 9moa0 with Jollibee Group Faoundation (JGF) president Grace Tan Cktiong, Secretry Armin Luistro of the Department of Eduction (DepEd) and Director General Joel Villanueva of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The MOA signing was held at the DepEd Complex in Pasig City. 

Paje said the agreement was part of the Aquino administration's PNoy Bayanaihan Project in which the DENR turns over consfiscated lumber to be made into chairs, desks and other school essentials for distribution to public schools nationwide. 

"The PNoy Bayanihan Project is mutually beneficial to all parties as it hits three birds with one stone: it is a corruptionp-free way to dispose of confiscated logs, provides alternative livelihood to manufacturers and addresses the shortage in physical facilities of our public schools," Paje pointed out. 

He added, "We are centainly glad that JGF has partnered with us to ensure they project's sustainability and quarantee that the youth,m which identifies with the comnpany the most, will become the biggest beneficiary,"

Under the MOA, the hot logs confiscated by the DENR will be turned over to TESTA, wi=hich has the manpower, training and production facilities to produce armchairs and other classroom furniture.

 The DepEd would provide the designed and specifications for furniture, including the values formation quotations and savings to be painted at the back of the chairs,m while a "seed fund" of P2 million will be given by JGF.

JGF also committed to oversee the manufacturer of the chairs and coordinate with the DepEd in identifying school beneficiaries.

A technical working group will also be creted, composed of representatives from eash of the partners with TESTA as chair, to facilitate the implementation of the entire projects.

for 2012, confiscted logs donated for the PNoy Bayanihan Project were converted into more than 88 thousand chairs, desks and other school furniture, and used to repair 378 public school building all over the country. (RPAO, DENR-9 PR)