CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, 05 SEPTEMBER 2026 — Continuing its support for education and public schools across the country, McDonald’s Philippines brings its ReClassified program to Cagayan de Oro for the first time, turning over 50 repurposed classroom chairs to East City Central School in Barangay Lapasan. The turnover comes as the company joins the celebration of National Teachers’ Month, recognizing teachers and the important role they play in the country’s education system.
Launched in 2023, ReClassified is McDonald’s Philippines’ sustainability and education initiative that transforms decommissioned store furniture into durable, purpose-designed classroom furniture for public schools in need. By giving discarded furniture a second life, the program helps address the need for classroom resources while reducing waste, creating more dignified and sustainable learning spaces for Filipino students.
In partnership with sustainability solutions company JunkNot and various education and community partners, tables, chairs, counters, booths, shelves, and other renovation byproducts are redesigned into student armchairs, teacher desks, bookshelves, and science lab tables.
Through its partnership with DepEd and local government units, McDonald’s continues to expand ReClassified to more communities across the country, helping provide schools with practical resources that support teachers and learners in their everyday learning environment.
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“Our partnership with the Department of Education has given us a deeper appreciation of the needs of our schools, teachers, and students. ReClassified is one way we can respond to a practical need while making sure that what has served us in our restaurants can continue to serve teachers and students in the classroom,” said Margot Torres, Managing Director, McDonald’s Philippines.
The turnover in Cagayan de Oro forms part of McDonald’s commitment in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) to provide 1,500 ReClassified chairs to public schools by 2027.
Since its launch, ReClassified has repurposed close to 1,000 pieces of classroom furniture, supporting various public schools, and more than 5,500 students nationwide.
The program has also earned recognition at the Asia Pacific Tambuli Awards and the Marketing Excellence Awards Philippines, including a Grand Prix, Golds, and Silvers at the former and a Gold for Excellence in CSR/Cause Marketing at the latter.
ReClassified builds on McDonald’s longstanding support for education in the Philippines. Over the years, the company has responded to the evolving needs of schools, teachers, and learners through various initiatives, from McClassroom, which provided alternative learning spaces during the pandemic, to its continued participation in Brigada Eskwela and support for National Teachers’ Month.
This commitment extends to the early years of a child’s development through McDonald’s charity of choice, Ronald McDonald House Charities Philippines (RMHC). Through Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit (RMBB), RMHC provides young children with safe spaces for early learning and development, while Read-To-Learn helps strengthen foundational literacy among elementary school learners. In Cagayan de Oro, these programs have reached local communities through two RMBB learning centers—one in Barangay Nazareth and the newest in Macanhan, Barangay Carmen—as well as Read-To-Learn partnerships with 54 schools across the city.
Together, these efforts reinforce McDonald’s broader role in supporting education in the communities it serves, using the reach, resources, and capabilities of its business to respond to needs beyond the restaurant.
“Being part of our communities is not just about opening more restaurants. It means contributing to the things that matter to the people we serve. Education has been part of McDonald’s work in the Philippines for decades, and our approach has continued to evolve with the needs of the communities we serve,” Torres added.
It is part of how McDonald’s grows with the communities that have welcomed it, creating value not only through its restaurants, but also through the ways the business can contribute to the people and places that make each community home.
