Baguio Brigada Eskwela set May 20

By Zaldy Comanda

BAGUIO CITY – The Dept. of Education will hold the annual Brigada Eskwela in the public schools in the city from May 20 to 25, to ensure the readiness of the school facilities when classes start on June 3.

Officials of the Division of City Schools called on parents of schoolchildren and students, teachers, community residents, barangay officials and volunteers to participate in the Brigada Eskwela.

The annual program has been institutionalized by the education department and the local government.

Earlier, the city council approved an ordinance that earmarked P1.5 million from local funds, particularly the city’s special education fund (SEF), to buy the materials that will be needed for the weeklong activity.

In the city alone, there are 47 public elementary and 21 public secondary institutions.

Brigada Eskwela was conceptualized to ensure that schoolchildren and students will not be spending part of their school time fixing classrooms and other school facilities during the first week of classes.

Under the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code of the Philippines, local governments are mandated to set aside a portion of their collection from real property taxes to be used by the local government for education-related programs, projects and activities under the care of the local school board and will comprise the special education fund.