(CNN Philippines) – With school opening just weeks away, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday (May 18) kicked-off its annual Brigada Eskwela activities, starting with a nationwide clean-up drive.
The annual Operation Brigada Eskwela started with a national kick-off ceremony held at Siargao, Surigao del Norte and Pinaglabanan, San Juan City. This year’s theme is “Tayo Para Sa Kalinisan at Kahandaan ng Ating mga Paaralan.”
The operation is a nationwide voluntary effort of teachers, parents, students, community members, and other organizations to do minor repairs and cleaning of schools in preparation for the start of the school year,
DepEd, environment group EcoWaste Coalition, and local government officials joined forces in getting 105 schools in Manila clean, safe, and ready for classes.
Education authorities assured much is being done to keep the environment of the school clean, which include using toxic-free materials.
Priscila De Sagun, DepEd Manila Schools Division superintendent, said all schools in Manila use lead-free paint, and that they do regular monitoring of schools to ensure that schools are safe.
Aside from the various groups and organizations, the Philippine Army (PA), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) also joined hands to make this year’s Brigada Eskwela a success and that the schools are child-friendly and conducive to learning.
Instead of automatic rifles and other weapons of war, Army troopers went out to the field carrying hammers and other building materials.
Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, Army spokesperson, said 400 soldiers were deployed to 18 schools in Taguig City, Makati City, Pasig City, Muntinlupa City, Pasay City, Pateros, and Tondo in Manila from May 18 to 23 to help teachers and parents in cleaning schools, repair school facilities, and do maintenance work.
The PNP, on the other hand, will deploy a total of 40 personnel from the PNP Police Community Relations Group (PCRG) to four schools in Metro Manila to clean, repaint, and repair the school buildings aside from giving security for the opening of classes this coming June.
PCRG personnel conducted the Brigada Eskwela Monday at Batasan Hills High School in Quezon City. Their next stop will be at Kalantiaw Elementary School (Quezon City) on May 19 and the Camp Crame High School (Quezon City) and Mandaluyong High School on May 20.
Elsewhere around the country, Police Regional Offices (PROs) were instructed to coordinate with DepEd authorities in the deployment of PNP personnel for Brigada Eskwela activities in public schools.
For its part, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), for its part, started painting pedestrian lanes in 200 schools all over Metro Manila to ensure students safety.
CNN Philippines reporters Pia Bonalos and Kimberly Go and Philippines News Agency contributed to this report.
