PASIG CITY, March 19, 2019 – The Department of Education (DepEd), through the External Partnerships Service (EPS), spearheaded a convergence meeting with national government agencies (NGAs) and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to strengthen partnerships for Brigada Eskwela at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan on March 13.

Slated on May 20 to 25 with the theme, “Matatag na Bayan para sa Maunlad na Paaralan,” Brigada Eskwela aims to bring together all education stakeholders to participate and contribute their time, effort, and resources to prepare public schools for the opening of classes.

“We’re now trying to equip all of our school officials from the various local levels of governance—from the school, district, schools division, region, and up to the central office—about partnership. We would like to change their mindset. Ito ay mga mahahalagang tao, indibidwal, korporasyon, ahensiya o opisina, sangay ng gobyerno na makatutulong sa atin para mangyari ‘yung misyon natin bilang Kagawaran ng Edukasyon,” Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships, and Project Management Service Tonisito M.C. Umali, Esq. shared.

Umali further emphasized everyone’s role in the provision of quality education for all: “Sa aming paglalakbay para protektahan at isulong ang karapatan ng bawat Filipino sa isang de-kalidad na edukasyon, dapat ang bawat pamilya, komunidad, ang lahat ng stakeholders ay kasama. Ang pagtuturo at paghubog sa ating mga anak ay isang kolektibong responsibilidad nating lahat.”

DepEd also called on volunteer entities to donate in kind: emergency kits for schools, teachers, and first aid, as well as health and hygiene kits and bags for learners.

During Brigada week, partners are enjoined to conduct learning sessions on public safety and fire or earthquake drill, sanitation and proper hygiene, health and wellness, food storage and handling, parenting, bullying awareness and prevention, anti-illegal drug campaign, financial literacy and personal financial management, and reading and writing sessions.

Partners are likewise encouraged to support DepEd’s programs on medical and dental check up, good grooming and haircut, Gulayan sa Paaralan, livelihood opportunities for learners and parents-teachers association (PTA), and provision of school supplies and uniforms, and learning and teaching materials.

NGA and GOCC representatives also shared their Brigada-related programs and projects, as well as their experiences. EPS noted all their existing initiatives and pledged to harmonize efforts and institutionalize implementation. It also discussed the framework for possible partnerships.
EPS also reported that last year’s Brigada generated a grand total of P6,447,685,413.61 worth of resources and volunteer man hours, and mobilized a total 22,647,754 volunteers.

In closing, Umali expressed gratitude for the attendance of NGAs and GOCCs, and ensured the realization of their commitments: “Sa lahat ng dumalo sa pagtitipon na ito, nagpapasalamat po kami. Makaaasa po kayo na lahat ng pinag-usapan natin dito ay mangyayari.”

The government agencies represented in the meeting were the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Civil Service Commission (CSC), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

For GOCCs, the participants include the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Light Rail Transit Administration (LRTA), National Power Corporation (NPC), Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Philippine Postal Corporation (PhlPost) Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), and the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP).

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