Brigada Eskwela 2019 to focus on disaster preparedness of schools, says DepEd

More than the annual repainting of classrooms and repairing of armchairs, this year's Brigada Eskwela, with the theme "Matatag na Bayan Para sa Maunlad na Paaralan," will focus on ensuring the disaster preparedness of schools, according to the Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday.

"Hindi lang po natin nais maging malinis at maganda ang ating paaralan, gusto rin po nating maging ligtas at handa sa panahon ng sakuna," DepEd Usec. Tonisito Umali said in an interview in GMA News TV's Balitanghali.

"Katatapos lang ho ng lindol ang sabi ni Ma'am Briones tingnan ang mga paaralan natin kung ang structural integrity na-kompromiso, dapat 'yan natututukan din," he added.

Umali was referring to the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that hit Luzon last April 22. It was followed by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake in Eastern Samar a day after.

Aside from the structural integrity of school buildings, the DepEd official said the inspection checklist to be ticked off includes electrical wirings, fire extinguishers, drainage systems, and first aid kits, among others.

Further, each school shall also ensure that water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs are practiced inside the school.

More than 47,000 public schools nationwide will conduct Brigada Eskwela which will run from May 20 to May 25, a week before the school year starts on June 3. Its national kick-off ceremony was held in Alfonso, Cavite on May 16. 

Parents, school staff and volunteers from other government agencies, local government units, private sector, and non-government organizations are expected to participate.

Umali said that DepEd monitors and assesses this annual activity by requiring each school to submit properly documented reports.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also deployed troops to take part in Brigada Eskwela near their respective camps.

"All our frontline units, the brigades, battalions, the divisions, they have for a long time adopted schools in their area of operations at ito 'yung binabalik-balikan nila everytime," AFP Public Affairs chief Colonel Noel Detoyato said in a separate interview.

"Our soldiers usually repair, kasi we send carpenters, marami kasing sundalo na karpentero... minor repairs ng mga tables and chairs, we help them repaint," he added.