‘Support for DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela overwhelming’

MANILA, Philippines - Education Secretary Armin Luistro sees overwhelming support for the National Schools Maintenance Week (NSMW), more popularly known as Brigada Eskwela during the launch yesterday.

“I’m sure we can exceed the number of partnerships and donations of man-hours by private individuals from the private sector and in the communities surrounding schools,” he said.

“The support for this year’s Brigada has been overwhelming. We don’t really set targets since the entire thing is voluntary and we only accept donations in kind or in the form of labor or man-hours.”

Numerous private organizations and large companies participated in Brigada Eskwela.

Actress Anne Curtis helped spread the buzz through “Twitterverse.”

Luistro said the continued surge of donors from officials and employees of the many small, medium and large corporations and non-governmental organizations and other private groups in the next few days is sure to surpass the donations of man-hours and building materials, as well as cleaning tools, generated in previous  Brigada Eskwelas.

They have recorded a very encouraging burst of participation from the private sector on the first day yesterday, he added.

Luistro said Brigada Eskwela 2012 generated donations from communities and private organizations estimated to be worth P1.5 billion, with some six million volunteers giving time and effort to help clean and make repairs on public schools in preparation for the school opening next month.

“We expect to surpass that this year,” he said.

Luistro led the formal launch yesterday morning at the Philippine School for the Deaf on F.B. Harrison street in Pasay City.

On its tenth year, this year’s Brigada Eskwela carries the theme “Isang Dekada ng Bayanihan sa Paaralan.”

Luistro said ordinary citizens’ participation in the event is proof that heroes still abound.

Started in 2003, Brigada Eskwela is a nationwide voluntary effort bringing together teachers, parents and the community to clean up and repair public schools to prepare the facilities for the school opening.

Undertaken in all public schools every third week of May or two weeks before classes begin, participants include private organizations, individuals, national and local government agencies, local businesses, and international organizations and foundations.

Volunteers paint classrooms, repair furniture, and clean up the school grounds.

Materials and supplies come from parents or private businesses and foundations. 

Australia joins in

Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell and embassy staff  joined Brigada Eskwela at the start of activities at the Philippine School for the Deaf in Pasay City.

Tweddell said: “Australia’s participation in Brigada Eskwela is part of Australia’s significant and broader commitment to helping improve the quality of teaching and learning in the Philippines. Education is the flagship of our aid program in the Philippines.

“Brigada Eskwela is an opportunity for Australian embassy staff to do ‘hands-on’ work with teachers, parents, and children to get schools ready for the new school year. We have a team of volunteers from the Australian embassy joining Brigada Eskwela activities for the whole week.”

Australia has provided approximately P1.6 million this year to support Brigada Eskwela activities in 81 public schools – five in Metro Manila and 76 in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Australia provided each school with materials and supplies for minor repairs, repainting and cleaning.

In addition, Australian embassy staff will participate in Brigada Eskwela activities this week in the five Metro Manila schools. The selected schools cater specifically to or have large number of enrollees who are children with disabilities.

Tweddell said: “With an estimated investment of P2 billion (A$50 million) annually, Australia’s goal is to ensure that all Filipino children can realize and benefit from opportunities that development offers, including and especially those who are most disadvantaged. Our programs have a strong focus on inclusive education. We support improvements in access for children with disabilities as well as children in conflict affected areas.”

Meawhile, the Army will deploy 200 troops in public schools nationwide for the Brigada Eskwela program.

Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr., Army civil-military operations chief, said the soldiers will participate in activities to prepare schools for the opening of classes. – With Alexis Romero, Pia Lee-Brago