BJMP jails join Brigada Eskwela

MANILA, Philippines - Jails nationwide under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) are actively participating in the Brigada Eskwela program of the Department of Education (Deped).

Chief Superintendent Diony Mamaril, BJMP officer-in-charge, said that joining Brigada was the bureau’s way of thanking DepEd in its continuous support to the BJMP program for inmates’ welfare and development, like through the Alternative Learning System where inmates get a chance for education.

“We see to it that BJMP is a constant participant to the annual Brigada Eskwela because we want to help DepEd prepare for the start of classes. More so because our personnel enjoy doing the job,” Mamaril said.

Brigada Eskwela, also called “Bayanihan sa Paaralan,” aims to make the school ready for the Activities include repainting of the schools and the classrooms, cleaning of school vicinity, gardening, repairing of leaking roofs, water pipes, chairs, desks, fences and others.

Mamaril said more jails are yet to join in the local Brigada Eskwela activities in their areas. Mamaril said BJMP could not deploy its personnel from jail units simultaneously because BJMP remains in control of provincial jails nationwide for the duration of the election period through Commission on Elections Resolution No. 9690.

Meanwhile, BJMP community relations service officer Jail Inspector Xavier Solda said this collaboration of BJMP and DepEd is a prelude to the nationwide Read-a-Book activity in schools on June 17.

“Jail officers will be reading stories promoting good Filipino values to elementary and kindergarten pupils,” said Solda.

During its launch last year, 6,500 children benefitted from the read-a-book activity.

In the National Capital Region, Pasay City Jail joined Pasay City West High School in wall painting, chair repair and beautification of classrooms.

Jail Superintendent Brendan Fulgencio, Pasay CJ Warden, said they are happy to have been of help in preparing the school’s facilities before classes start.

In Region IV-A, scheduled to join local Brigada Eskwela projects are Dasmarinas City Jail, Trece Martires City Jail, Batangas City Jail, Quezon District Jail (former Provincial Jail), Cabuyao City Jail, Tagaytay City Jail, Lucena City Jail (MD), San Pablo City Jail, Bacoor City Jail, Teresa District Jail, Tanza Municipal Jail and Los Banos City Jail.

In Palawan, Narra Municipal Jail helped clean classrooms after joining the DepEd’s motorcade setting off the province’s Brigada Eskwela program.

In Negros Occidental, Bacolod City District Female Dormitory joined the fun run and Hataw dance of Handumanan Elementary School as part of the school’s Brigada Eskwela. Cadiz City Jail also participated in the DepEd program.

Also joining the Brigada Eskwela in CARAGA Region are Surigao del Sur District Jails in Bislig and Cantilan and Butuan City Jail; Malabang District Jail, Wao Municipal Jail, Bongao Municipal Jail and Upi Municipal Jail in ARMM. Sheriff Aguak and Jolo Municipal Jail are poised for Brigada Eskwela next week.

Other jails participating in the DepEd project include Balungao District Jail and San Fernando City Jail in Region I, Aklan District Jail, Iloilo District Jail, San Carlos City Jail and La Carlota City Jail in Region VI.