MAYOR Cristina G. Romualdez mingles with schoolchildren during the launching of the week-long 2017 Brigada Eskwela or  the School Maintenance Program of the Department of Education City Division Office on Monday, May 15, 2017 at the Sta. Elena Elementary School. The City Government has committed its full support for the “Brigada” and will give 50,000 financial assistance to public schools to help defray cost of clean-up and minor repairs. (H.J.Roca)

TACLOBAN CITY – Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez urged more multi-sectoral participation in the maintenance of disaster-resilient school facilities on Monday, May 15, as she led the kick-off of the yearly School Maintenance Week or “Brigada Eskwela.”

The kick-off ceremony held at the Sta. Elena Elementary School, a primary school located in the northern part of the City which  caters to more than 200 students; was attended by local DepEd Officials  led by  Dr. Thelma Quitalig, local Barangay Officials and  representatives of the  Alaska Milk Corporation  which provided a feeding program for schoolchildren.

In her message Mayor Romualdez motivated those present, “…to build together, better classrooms…(as) it is our shared community responsibility  to provide basic education for all our children…”

She committed the full support of the City Government and  expressed her wish that more will be motivated to contribute their time, effort and resources for the activity that is meant to prepare public school facilities for the upcoming school year in June.

The City Government is set to distribute P50,000 financial support to  City Public Elementary and Secondary Schools this week as  part of its yearly commitment for the  Brigada Eskwela.  The amount will help defray costs for minor repairs, maintenance works  and clean-up in schools.

A free haircut will also be conducted in ten public schools courtesy  of the Cristina’s Learn and Earn Program – the Mayor’s Pet Livelihood Project, as part of the efforts to entice more volunteers for the local DepEd Program.

Meantime,  the Brigada Eskwela Coordinator of the City Schools Division Office  Norberto Erandio said that the implementation  of  the “Brigada” from  May 15 to 20, 2017 is anchored on DepEd Order 43 series of 2017. This year’s theme is: “Isang DepEd, Isang Pamayanan, Isang Bayanihan Para sa Handa at Ligtas na Paaralan.”

Erandio disclosed that a Division Search for the Best School Implementer of the  School Maintenance Program will commence  shortly after a week to select entries for the Regional Brigada Eskwela Awards.

Nine City Division entries were recognized in the Regional Awards last year, while one entry  Dr. A.P Banez Elementary School was named “Exceptional School” at the National Level.  The City Division has 67 Elementary and Secondary Public Schools under its jurisdiction.  -HENRY JAMES G. ROCA/CIO, Photos  by Tim Canes/CMO