In its continuing effort and commitment to assist in the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi, DepEd will again take action to mobilize resources for the repairs of the heavily-damaged schools in the said community.

This coming Sunday, December 17, 2017, DepEd Bicol will lead the “Unity Run for Marawi” as part of its mobilization activity in the Region hoping to engage at least 10,000 individuals to raise the needed funds for the seven (7) schools in Marawi assigned to the Region. The Unity Run will be a synchronized activity of all the Divisions in Bicol with its stakeholders and participants.

All proceeds of the Unity Run will be utilized to procure the supplies and materials needed by H. Hassan Memorial Elementary School, Dulay Elementary School, Fatima Primary School, Domaday Primary School, Guimba Lilod Primary School, Nanapun Elementary School and Tumarumon Primary School.

Brigada Eskwela Regional Coordinator Ma. Cristina Baroso said that everyone is invited to partake in this meaningful event by registering at the Division Offices in the Region starting this Friday, December 8, 2017.

The Unity Run will be held on December 17, 2017 with assembly time at 5:00 pm at SDO Albay, Bogtong, Legazpi City.

This is in support to the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela sa Marawi (BESM) which will be launched in December 13, 2017 with the over-all objective of creating an atmosphere easing out the trauma of the crisis to the schoolchildren in Marawi. This shall be done by conducting minor repairs including repainting and to project the school as safe area where learners can continue learning and can feel that it is a happy and beautiful place to stay.

The BESM is a nationwide effort of the Department mobilizing its various units including regions and divisions in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

As to date, an estimated PhP1.17 Billion is being raised with the help of DepEd to reconstruct the 22 bombed, burnt, and heavily damaged schools in Marawi City.

Under the project, Schools Divisions Offices (SDO) in the nearby cities of Marawi, called paired SDOs, will provide the manpower needed during the Brigada Eskwela while the assigned SDOs from the other Regions, called twinned SDOs, will provide for the needed resources (as per Unnumbered memorandm from Secretary Briones dated November 22, 2017.)

It is DepEd’s earnest desire that together with our partners, we shall help our school children in Marawi City recover from their traumatic experience with our little contribution to rebuild their schools so that they may continue learning as education is their inherent right.  This may be one of the most beautiful gifts that we can offer to them in this Season of sharing and giving.