THE PLAN

     The RPG Foundation plans to continue to provide scholarship grants with stipends for their basic living allowance to students in College, Masteral and Doctorate level. These individuals will also undergo training seminars on leadership and value formation to direct them to a career in public service. It is not necessary that they become Government employees but they should serve the public at large with their chosen professions. They can be instructors or professors in private and public schools. They can serve in local government units as public officials with an objective to provide public accountability and service for his/her constituents. They can work in private enterprises helping create equal opportunities for others to earn a living by providing them the basic benefits of their work contributions like Social Security, health plans and other employee benefits. It is also the hope of the Foundation that they develop a persona of providing philanthropic work to benefit others that are less fortunate.


SCREENING COMMITTEES for SCHOLARSHIPS
Monitoring Secretariat

     It is also the plan of the RPGF to seek out the best, qualified individuals for the program. It plans to set-up Screening Committees (SC) in the different regions of the country to help solicit and qualify applicants who have shown great promise to commit to career in public service. Through a Secretariat it will also continue to monitor the progress of the scholars to insure that they are in compliance with the educational and basic conduct requirements of the program. The SC will also assess the requirements of the individual to complete his/ her coursework. If the initial funds committed for the program is insufficient for the coursework then it will source out the funds to complete the requirements. A common requirement is the completion of a thesis or dissertation where the student has to do extensive research and documentation to make an honest defense of his/her thesis/ dissertation.

     The SC will also assist the student if he/she will need to do practicum training so as to provide them invaluable experiences. The Secretariat will prepare all vouchers, receive all supporting documents and make all disbursements for the foundation. The SC will award or disqualify the applicants based on the criteria set forth by the RPGF.

     The RPGF has already funded scholarships that benefit students of the University of the Philippines. In his capacity as Chairman of the Muslim Youth Foundation, Dr Raul P de Guzman oversaw the granting of scholarships to Muslim Youths in U.P. Mindanao, Mindanao State University and other State run universities. As President of the San Nicolas Gapan Foundation, he also has provided the impetus to award educational and livelihood scholarships to deserving but economically disadvantaged individuals in rural communities.

     It is the goal of the RPG Foundation to provide scholarship grants to at least 10,000 deserving but economically marginalized students of society within the next 3 years. The beneficiaries will not only received the necessary funds to complete their education but will be motivated through seminars and specially organized activities to develop careers in public service and to promote goodwill for the development of our local communities. Masteral and Doctorate studies will be strongly encouraged. The beneficiaries will also be asked to serve the country for at least 3 years prior to considering work opportunities in other countries.

     It is necessary to maintain a Trust Fund that will be managed and invested by fund managers to insure that the benefits will be awarded in perpetuity. This will allow more individuals to avail of the educational grants aside from the initial 10,000. Part of the fund’s proceeds will be reinvested to allow the fund to grow and hedge against inflation. Fund allocation: US$ 240,000,000.


RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTERS (RTC)

     The RPGF also plans to set-up Research and Training Centers (RTC) that the students can visit to allow them to complete their coursework. The RTCs will provide reading materials like books and periodicals that cater to particular subjects matters. It will also have computer units that will have internet access and that can run programs needed by the students to help complete their coursework. The RTCs will also conduct job-training seminars and help solicit and post job opportunities for government agencies and for private companies both local and international.

     To assist the RPGF set-up the facility, the National College of Public Administration and Government (NCPAG) of the University of the Philippines will be tasked to help source the materials; books, periodicals and software that will be used in the RTC. The center will focus on Public Administration, Education, Social and Political Science subject matters. It will also hold occasional training and seminars on related subject matters.

     The Pan Xenia Foundation will be tasked by the RPGF to help source materials; books, periodicals, programs and softwares that will focus on Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, International Trade and International Business and Entrepreneurship. It will also hold occasional training and seminars on related subject matters. It may be a one-stop shop for information for those setting up business enterprises. It will coordinate with University of the Philippines Institute for Small-Scale Industries (UP ISSI), the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) to make the center one of their hubs for their information dissemination campaigns.

     The computer units in the RTCs will be set-up with internet access to allow the students to search the web for information not available in the center. A facility custodian will manage the operation of the facility to insure equal time is allocated to each visitor. A minimal usage fee will be assessed each visitor for the maintenance, staffing, upgrade and utility consumption of the center.

IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM

     The Foundation plans to put up about 30 RTCs in some of the major cities and educational centers within the Philippine Archipelago. Some of the locations included will be Manila, Makati, Quezon City, Angeles and San Fernando Pampanga, Baguio, San Fernando L.U., Los Banos Laguna, Cabanatuanand Gapan, N. Ecija; San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan; Dagupan, Pangasinan; Laoag, Ilocos Norte; Naga City; General Santos, Davao City, Cebu City, Iloilo City, Cagayan de Oro, Ormoc City, Tacloban City.

A. Infrastructure. Each RTC will have an area between 80 to 160 square meters depending on the location and the space availability. A training room will be partitioned from the available space measuring 30 to 60 sqms. The remaining area will be the library for books and periodicals, tables and chairs and the computer area with internet; DSL and Wifi connectivity. The computers will be connected through a Local Area Network (LAN). There will be at least be 8 computer terminals available. Printing and photocopying services will be made available. Audio-visual components, overhead projectors, TV/VHS/DVD players will be available for training purposes. Cost allocation: US$ 520,000.

B. Operational Expenses: to include staff salaries for the Center Custodian and 2 assistants. Subscription for periodicals local and international, broadsheet papers, internet (DSL), and cable TV. Maintenance and upgrade of equipment and facilities.
Cost allocation: US$ 120,000.

C. Trust Fund: to fund major material and equipment acquisition; future expansion of the facility; pay honorariums to trainers and resource person for seminars; cover additional operational expenses; facility upkeep and maintenance.
Fund allocation: US$ 400,000.

Total Cost/ Funds Required per Center: US$ 1,040,000.


EDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURES


     The RPGF has already helped fund the construction of school buildings and facilities for an elementary public school in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. The original school facilities having been constructed before World War II were in a very poor structural condition due to age and poor maintenance. The school’s official decided to condemn at least 4 classrooms and cordon off a portion of the “Gabaldon-type” school building since it was considered structurally unsafe.

     It is the plan of the Foundation to extend its participation in the Adopt-a-School Program of the Department of Education to help bring hope and encouragement to elementary pupils of public schools. The Foundation not only plans to help construct new classrooms and facilities but also provided educational tools derived from technological advances to try at least level the playing field of students compared to their counterparts in the private sector. The use of computers with connectivity to the internet and other audio-visual mediums are necessary to expand the horizons of the pupils. A Trust Fund will also be necessary to fund improvements and upgrades from the proceeds of its investments and/or placements. There is a need in some schools to improve toilet facilities, the water system, and other facilities. And due to yearly increases in enrollments, classrooms have to be added every year.

THE PLAN

Construct a minimum of 6 new classrooms and renovate at least 6 classrooms to bring them up to safe and comfortable standards. Cost Allocation (New Construction)  US$ 150,000
                            Cost Allocation (Renovation)  US$ 75,000

   Computer/ Audio-visual Room : 30 Terminals  US$ 100,000

            Total Cost/ Fund Allocation per School US$ 325,000


     The plan of the Foundation is to help improve the facilities and increase the number of classrooms in at least 2,400 schools in the next 5 years. It is the objective of the foundation to uplift the conditions of some of the poorest provinces in 14 selected regions. The selection of the provinces will be based on their Cohort Survival Rate. The lower, the more chances of being selected to be part of the program. (Attached is The Philippine Countryside in Figures, 2005 Edition: Education, indicating Province, No. of Public Schools and reported CSR. Highlighted are the provinces likely to be considered for the program)

MANAGEMENT OF THE FOUNDATION

In order to proper manage the operations of the foundation to insure the proper implementation of its plans and objectives, the Foundation Center Central Office will be established and provided an operational budget. The Board of Trustees will approve all actions to implement the programs. An Investment Council will be formed to insure that the funds of the foundation are properly managed through sound investments and accountable disbursements according to the requirements of the programs.
Operational Budget: US$ 600,000.


A Project Management Office will be organized with professional project managers, engineers, materials surveyors and purchasers to insure the infrastructure projects are properly valued and actual construction is accomplished within a reasonable time & cost.
Operational Budget: US$ 2,200,000.


The Screening Committees for the Scholarships with functional Secretariats will be organized and provided an operational budget to insure the Quality of the Scholars meet the criteria set forth by the Foundation.
Operational Budget : US$ 800,000.