DepEd kickstarts Brigada Eskwela 2026 as school opening nears

The Department of Education (DepEd) commenced on Monday a kick-off event at Cabadbaran City National High School in Agusan del Sur, marking the start of the week-long Brigada Eskwela.

“So dito po nagkakaisa po tayo, and it’s a reminder na if we want quality education, kung gusto natin lumaki sa tamang paraan ang ating mga bata, if we want to enculcate them with values, then we really must concentrate in our schools,” DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said during his opening speech in the event.

(So here we are united, and it’s a reminder that if we want quality education, if we want our children to grow up the right way, if we want to inculcate them with values, then we really must concentrate on our schools.)

The 2026 Brigada Eskwela is themed “Bayanihan sa Paaralan: Nagkaisa para sa Kaayusan at Kaalaman,” and aims to promote community volunteerism in preparing the classrooms and school grounds before classes start on June 8.

“Ang Brigada Eskwela ay patunay ng lakas ng ating bayanihan para sa kinabukasan ng mga kabataan. Sa paggabay at suporta ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, pinag-isa natin ang TUPAD at Brigada upang hindi lang ihanda ang mga paaralan, kundi maghatid din ng kabuhayan sa mga pamilyang nangangailangan,” Angara said in a press release.

(Brigada Eskwela is proof of the strength of our bayanihan (communal unity) for the future of the youth. Under the guidance and support of President Bongbong Marcos, we have united TUPAD and Brigada to not only prepare the schools, but also to provide livelihoods to families in need.)

Pinangunahan ni Education Secretary Sonny Angara nitong Lunes ang sabay-sabay na pambansang paglulunsad ng Brigada Eskwela ngayong taon mula sa Agusan del Norte.

Kaalinsabay nito, pinalawak din ang kampanya para sa kahandaan ng mga paaralan sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng… pic.twitter.com/cJmtWVRxva

— DepEd (@DepEd_PH) June 1, 2026

On Saturday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced the mobilization of 240,000 beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program for Brigada Eskwela 2026.

“So, naglalayon po ito na mag-provide ng halos mahigit 200,000 trabaho nationwide mula June 1 hanggang magsimula na ang eskuwela. And even while classes are ongoing,” DOLE Acting Secretary Francis Tolentino said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(On June 1, a nationwide program will be launched. In partnership with DepEd, this is Brigada Eskwela. It aims to provide almost 200,000 jobs nationwide from June 1 until classes begin, and even while classes are ongoing.)

According to DepEd, DOLE has allocated around P2 billion for the implementation of this support of TUPAD to Brigada Eskwela and school readiness activities for School Year 2026–2027.

Simultaneously, DepEd said regional kick-off events were also held in different Schools Division Offices, including Nueva Ecija, Batangas City, Puerto Princesa City, Talisay City, Calbayog City, and Davao City. —KG, GMA News