Public, Private Agencies Share Resources for Brigada Eskwela 2019

The Filipino spirit of bayanihan surfaced anew at Panan-awan village in this city on Tuesday, May 21 during the kickoff ceremony for 2019 Brigada Eskwela led by the city schools division of the Department of Education (DepEd).

“Panan-awan Integrated School was chosen as the jump-off point for the week-long annual schools maintenance work due to its potential as an entry of the city division to the regional search for Best Brigada Implementer,” said Judella Lumpas, city schools division superintendent, during the ceremonial program.

A Holy Mass at 5:30 a.m. started the day, then followed by a motorcade around the city proper to this barangay which is about 15 kilometers from the city proper by the national highway going to the northwest, the next barangay is already part of Matalom, Leyte.

DepEd reserved the third week of May as the nationwide observance of schools maintenance work through mobilizing community participation to prepare schools and classrooms for the smooth opening of classes on June 3.

This year’s theme for the Brigada Eskwela is “Matatag na Bayan Para sa Maunlad na Paaralan.”

During the program, DepEd’s partner agencies in the public and private sectors pledged support for voluntary work in any of the schools under the city division.

The East-West Bank donated one unit comfort room at San Agustin Multi-Grade School.

A popular fast-food chain, Jollibee, delivered gardening tools and other cleaning materials while Saint Joseph College (SJC), a private school, brought something for snacks, such as bread and bottled water, and vowed continuity of the adopt a brother and feeding programs.

The Red Cross expressed assistance on capacity building, and inclusion of any other necessary intervention for the schools during the visit in the province soon of four foreign Red Cross societies.

The Boy Scouts and the Provincial Police Office brought gallons of paint with manpower, while the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Bureau of Fire Protection also pledged warm bodies to undertake the physical work.

City Mayor Nacional Mercado announced that fire extinguishers, megaphones and first aid kits are due for distribution to all the schools, including the continued distribution of school supplies to elementary pupils.

“A service vehicle for monitoring purposes was also being readied for turnover to the city DepEd office,” Mercado reported.

He later led in painting the steps of the stage for its first coating as Vice-Mayor Maloney Samaco, DepEd officials, and teachers look on. (LDL/MMP/PIA-8, Southern Leyte)