On February 12, 2019, the Department of Education hosted a Partners’ Appreciation ceremony where convergence of purpose was recognized, celebrated and renewed with over 200 education partners and stakeholders. Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, together with DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito M.C. Umali, awarded Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) with a Certificate of Appreciation for its constant and reliable collaboration with the agency in providing free milk to all adopted public elementary schools of AMC with the highest incidence of malnutrition.

The award was received by Atty. Maria Angela Esquivel, Corporate Affairs Director, Atty. Noel del Prado, Public Affairs and Legal Manager and Ray Vincent Ramos, Public Affairs and Legal Associate Manager.

In expressing her gratitude, DepEd Secretary Briones highlighted the pivotal role of collaboration in augmenting the various needs of learners in the public school system. It came as no surprise to her that the broader base of engagement has resulted in the unprecedented rise of the Department’s public trust and approval ratings for the past two years. She beamed, “We are happy to report that we’ve achieved the highest public trust and approval ratings in the Department’s history!”

Secretary Briones graciously shared the credit with its partners, including Alaska Milk Corporation, when she said that, “The degree of the rating perhaps says that we are moving in the right direction. But again, we cannot do this alone, even if our budget will be increased so many more times. This is because there’s always a need, and you are the ones who know what is really happening. You are the ones who know what still needs to be done,” Briones told the partners.

The partnership of purpose between the Department of Education and Alaska Milk Corporation has drawn the battle lines against malnutrition in 222 public elementary schools across the Philippines, and has fought for the lives of 18,366 severely malnourished and malnourished public elementary schoolchildren from Kindergarten to Grade 6.

This recognition opens a banner year for Alaska Milk Corporation, as it intensifies its campaign against malnutrition where it is most needed, and where its purpose and hope of “providing affordable nutrition to every Filipino home” will converge in every glass and in every plate of the Filipino family.