• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Department of Education in Western Visayas will launch the regional Brigada Eskwela (BE) on July 19 in La Castellana, Negros Occidental.
The kickoff program is in collaboration with the Schools Division of Negros Occidental, with a simultaneous caravan for SDOs and schools’ districts belonging to the northern cluster, including Guimaras and Panay, from the Capitol Park and Lagoon in Bacolod City, while the southern cluster will assemble in Pontevedra.
The regional BE launching is expected to be attended by Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan, DepEd officials and teachers, and other stakeholders.
DepEd6 regional director Ramir Uytico, in his memorandum, said the BE activities will be held from July 22 to 27, in preparation for the opening of school year 2024-2025 on July 29.
BE is a nationwide school maintenance program that engages all education stakeholders to contribute their time, efforts, and resources in ensuring that public schools are all set in time for the class opening, the DepEd said.
It is a six-day event where local communities, parents, alumni, civic groups, local businesses, nongovernmental organizations, private individuals, teachers, and students volunteer their time and skills to do cleanups, minor to medium repairs, and maintenance work in classrooms and within the school sites.
This year’s theme is the same as that of the previous school year, “Bayanihan Para sa Matatag na Paaralan”.
BE participation is voluntary, the DepEd stressed.
“However, volunteer teachers who would extend their services during the conduct of the BE Week, are entitled to receive service credit commensurate to the number of hours rendered,” Anthony Liobet, DepEd Negros Occidental Schools Division superintendent, said in a memorandum. | CGC
