THE response of students and town employees to the nine Honesty Stores installed mostly in schools in Bayambang as a social experiment to instill and practice this age-old admirable value among townsfolk, especially among the kids, is very encouraging.

Joel Cayabyab, in charge  of the Bayambang Poverty Reduction Action Team program of Mayor Cezar Quiambao’s administration, said eight honesty stores were rolled out in Sanlibo National High School, Sanlibo Elementary School, Pangasinan State University College of Arts, Sciences and Technology for students taking up Business Administration, Bayambang Central School, Tanolong Elementary School, Bayambang National High School and Tococ National High School.

The ninth is at the municipal hall for the employees.

The program was launched in February this year and the initial evaluation after several months of operation showed “so far, so good result”, he added.

The local government unit initially gave each P10,000 capital for the Honesty Stores, some of which are handled by the school’s Supreme Student Government while others by designated teachers who do the purchasing.

Students have since learned to buy items by simply leaving the exact amount for the goods with price tags but in case a change is needed, the student gets it from the box where monies are deposited, Cayabyab said.

At the end of the year, the schools will be evaluated again and if their operation is sustained, they will get incentives like school supplies from the local government, Cayabyab added.

He said he hopes the program will continue until more schools participate and groups will deliver nutritious products for the kids’ healthy snacks.

At the municipal hall’s Honesty Stores, some vendors deliver cooked items like ukoy, a boiled quail eggs as snacks of employees and they get their sales at the end of the day. (PhilStar Wire Service)

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