The Makati City local government has formally launched and distributed the latest iteration of its much awaited Air Binay (AB) rubber shoes at the Palanan Elementary School and San Isidro National High School on Monday, July 29.

(Photos from Makati LGU)

The ceremonial distribution was initially scheduled on July 23 and 25, but was postponed due to the onslaught of Typhoon Carina and enhanced habagat.

Makati City Mayor Abby Binay led the distribution of the shoes as well as other school supplies together with Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, Makati City Reps. Kid Peña and Luis Campos, and other city officials and heads of the schools.

A total of 35,861 students received the said shoes and rain gear which includes a rain coat, rain boots, jacket, uniform, leather shoes, and school supplies. 

Binay explained that these supplies are under the City's Project FREE (Free Relevant Excellent Education), which provides Makati public school students -- from preschool to senior high -- with free school supplies and ready-to-wear school uniforms.

During Mayor Abby's administration, the city government expanded Project FREE to include leather and rubber shoes, tumblers, socks, rain gear, dengue and hygiene kits, jackets, and Japan-inspired school bags and uniforms.

The Air Binay rubber shoes was first introduced in 2017 wherein a total of 89,862 students received the very first AB sneakers.

The AB 2.0 was then released in 2019 and was given to 90,000 students from kindergarten to senior high school.

In 2020, the third iteration of the sneakers, AB 3.0, was distributed to 93,110 pupils which now include SPED and ALS students.

However, the project was halted following the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.

On March 21 2022, the city government launched the fourth version of the shoes.

The fifth version of the shoes was launched on January 27, 2023.