Last September 25, Caltex Fuel Your School (FYS), a collaborative program between public schools, motorists and Caltex retailers, turned over P3 million worth of 21st century learning tools to the 30 highest-need public high schools in Ilocos and Cordillera regions.

Almost 52,000 public high school students and 1,781 of their teachers were able to use the learning tools as they study Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

STEM education is important in a country’s competitiveness. The Philippines needs more mathematicians, engineers, and scientists for its long-term growth prospects. With the new equipment provided by Caltex FYS, more students will find STEM interesting and pursue careers in STEM.

The students and teachers worked the hardest in promoting Caltex FYS to people online and to their communities from June 1 to July 31. During this period, each fuel up was matched by Caltex and branded marketer, Northern Star, with a one-peso donation. Twenty-six Caltex stations in Ilocos and Cordilleras participated. By the end of July, the target of three million pesos in total donations was reached, enough to provide P100,000 worth of modern teaching and learning equipment to each of the 30 public high schools selected by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Northern Star and Caltex executives turned over laptops, multimedia projectors, calculators, digital microscopes, laboratory equipment and even robotics set during the awarding event.

Since its launch in 2015, Caltex FYS has funded almost 120 classroom projects at 118 public high schools in Manila, Davao, Bicol and Ilocos Region. Caltex Fuel Your School was recognized by different award-giving bodies such as the Silver and Gold Anvil Awards from Public Relations Society of the Philippines, a merit recognition from the coveted Quill Awards, and the American Chamber of Commerce CSR Excellence Awards.