Baguio school program launched this Monday

By Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- It takes a village to educate a child. 

           

With this guidepost, Baguio will launch this Monday “Brigada Eskwela”, the nation-wide public school maintenance program that taps various sectors of the community in preparing buildings, classrooms, comfort rooms, desks and learning facilities in time for the opening of the school year.

           

The kick-off will coincide with the weekly flag ceremony infront of the city hall, with city councilor Peter Fianza, chair of the SangguniangPanlungsod committee on education, and city schools superintendent, Dr. Mary Lang-ayan presiding.

           

Fianza earlier filed an ordinance to institutionalize the city’s support to “Brigada” which the Department of Education launch in 2003 to flesh out the spirit of the “Adopt A School Program” under Republic Act 8525.

           

“We’re hopeful that the measure, which has passed first and second reading, would be approved with the corresponding fund support  to strengthen our back-to=school preparations for our children,” Fianza said.

           

As spelled out by Education Secretary Armin Luistro, this year’s focus will be “the improvement of toilets and wash facilities as part of the DepEd’s effort to strengthen awareness on the importance of hygiene and sanitation among students”.

           

In Memorandum 56, Luistro  also encouraged the improvement of indigenous communities and encourage DepEd  employees to offer their skills and support to public schools near their residences.  

           

In his proposed ordinance, Fianza recommended a city outlay of P1.5 million from the general fund, conduct of information and education campaign, and allowing the services of city employees, equipment and facilities in preparing schools in time for the annual opening of classes.

           

With the city support in place, Fianza recommended that the City School Board shall prepare the program, project or activity to be funded from the city allocation and authorize disbursement from the same. He said the outlay can be maintained under the office of the mayor or the city administrator.

           

Brigada won this year the Anvil Award of Merit as a public relations program on a sustained basis under the education category presented by the Public Relations Organization of the Philippines.

           

The PROP cited Brigada “for successfully engaging the participation of community stakeholders in repair and clean-up  of schools, reminding them that educating our youth is a responsibility of the community”.

           

Also known as the “National Schools Maintenance Week”, Brigada will be from May 21 to 26, according to Luistro.