Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Legazpi City— A collaborative partnership in support to DepEd’s Emergency Brigada Eskwela for the clearing operations repair and rehabilitation of school facilities in Typhoon Nina- affected schools in Bicol Region was forged through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed in January 10, this year.The project, dubbed as “Food for Work” is a relief and intervention project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) RO V, DepED RO V, and the Fundacion Educacion Y Cooperacion (EDUCO) which will provide food assistance to community volunteers who are taking part in schools cleaning and rehabilitation activities and who are also victims of the typhoon.DepED V Regional Director Ramon Fiel G. Abcede said that this Food for Work program is significant to the beneficiaries or volunteers as they themselves are also affected by the typhoon and will boost community’s participation to the Emergency Brigada Eskwela.

RD Abcede noted that typhoons bring devastating economic and livelihood effects that may translate to a drop of learners’ attendance to school to help their parents in securing food for the family.  This intervention is aimed to lower the rate of absenteeism and dropping out of students while reinforcing the livelihood efforts of the community.

Meanwhile, DSWD V Regional Director Arnel Garcia said that DSWD’s provision of food packs is an expression of support to Emergency Brigada Eskwela and is so far the best practice or initiative of the agency in the Region since Typhoon Reming.

Around Bicol, there are 788 schools affected by Typhoon Nina and are currently undergoing Emergency Brigada Eskwela to re-ensure the safety and security of the learners and normalize classes in the schools.

As of this week, 13,620 food packs were already given to the volunteers coming from the provinces and municipalities of Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Tabaco City and some identified municipalities in Masbate. DSWD food packs contribution is currently totaling to a cost of P3.7 M while EDUCO’s P1.7 million.

The food packs distributed to volunteers contain canned goods, rice and instant coffee which can last for at least two days. (MMLJ)