Army in Eastern Visayas launches Project Shoe Box

By DPAO, 8ID PA
June 19, 2014

TACLOBAN CITY – The 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, Philippine Army launches the Project Shoebox in a simple turn-over ceremony conducted at its Headquarters in Catbalogan City on June 19, 2014.

Approximately 9,000 shoe boxes containing school supplies and personal care items were turned over by Mr. Boyet Singson, representing 2GO Group Incorporated to Dr. Eduardo G. Pabunan, representing the School Division Superintendent of Department of Education, Samar and MajGen. Jet B. Velarmino, the Commander of 8th Infantry Division Philippine Army.

2GO Incorporated shipped the items from Metro Manila for free.

Project Shoebox was first launched by the U.P. Sigma Alpha Sorority and the 4th Light Armor Battalion, Light Armor Division in Camp Nakar, Lucena City in February 2012. The project utilized a shoe box as a package, wherein basic school supplies and other personal care items were put into it and were distributed to selected Elementary schools. From then on, the Philippine Army and its subordinate units spearheaded the same project that helped tens of thousands of families who have hard time buying school supplies for their children.

As of 2013, recipient students were placed at 116,096 from 381 public elementary schools located in different parts of the Philippines namely: Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, Bicol region, Compostela Valley, and Davao Oriental.

In his comment, MajGen. Velarmino said, “This is a simple way of letting our elementary students feel that your Army here in Eastern Visayas and other stakeholders show our simple but genuine concern for their welfare.”