Brigada Eskwela starts in preparation for coming school year

The annual Brigada Eskwela started early on Monday morning with teachers, school staff, students, parents, and volunteers joining hands to prepare public school facilities for the coming school year.

The Department of Education (DepEd) - National Capital Region held a caravan at 6 a.m. to signal the start of the activity, according to a report by Bam Alegre on GMA News' Unang Balita.

The caravan started with DepEd personnel walking on Alabang-Zapote Road toward Las Piñas Elementary School.

At the Sampaguita High School in Camarin, Caloocan City, parents who have been joining the said activity in the past years showed up again to help teachers paint students' chairs and clean the classrooms, according to a report by Lala Roque on GMA News' Unang Balita.

Aside from the cleanup, a booth was also put up which will offer students free haircuts and facials.

Meanwhile, at the Batasan Hills National High School, a parade started at 6 a.m. to signal the start of Brigada Eskwela, according to a separate report by James Agustin on Unang Balita.

Pagsisimula ng Brigada Eskwela sa Batasan Hills National High Shool sa Quezon City. @gmanews @dzbb @UnangHirit pic.twitter.com/IGAJhkU7yk

— James Agustin (@_jamesJA) May 19, 2019

Parents, students, and teachers will then go to the classrooms after the parade to sweep floors, fix broken armchairs, and repaint facilities.

More than 15,000 students and almost 600 teachers are expected to use the facilities of Batasan Hills National High School this coming school year 2019-2020.

An orientation will be held on Tuesday for students, while the parents' orientation will be on Wednesday.

The Quezon City Schools Division Office, on the other hand, held a Brigada Eskwela 2019 kick-off parade on Friday in Barangay Duyan-Duyan, with over 100 students, parents, teachers and principals partipating.

Meanwhile, in Abra, students and stakeholders signed a pledge of commitment before Brigada Eskwela started.

DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito Umali earlier said the launch of the annual activity would take place in Alfonso Central School in Alfonso, Cavite.

Umali also reminded that those who want to join the Brigada Eskwela do not need to pay fees.

The Brigada Eskwela will be held until Saturday, May 25, a week before the school year starts on June 3.

This year's theme for the annual activity is "Matatag na Bayan Para sa Maunlad na Pamayanan."

The nationwide activity will also be participated in by government agencies such as the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said in a statement on Sunday that it is the first time the agency is participating in Brigada Eskwela. PDEA has allotted P5,000 for each of the 17 regional offices to purchase materials to be used in cleaning and beautification of public school facilities.

The PNP will be on heightened alert as the coming school year nears. Police assistance desks will be put up in schools. —KG, GMA News