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Brigada Eskwela saves DepEd P5.7B


By Philip Tubeza
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:22:00 02/25/2009

Filed Under: Education


MANILA, Philippines—The "bayanihan spirit" saved the Department of Education P5.7 billion in repair costs last year, according to Secretary Jesli Lapus.

DepEd reported that it saved all that money because more than five million Filipinos volunteered to repair and clean up the schools in their communities, Lapus said in a statement.

Lapus said this was the result of the department’s Brigada Eskwela program, which mobilizes local governments, non-government associations and private businesses to lend a hand in the upkeep of schools in time for the school opening in June.

Lapus said the program achieved results in all 44,619 school communities in 2008, up from only 31 percent in 2003

The savings amounted to P2.9 billion worth of community maintenance and operating costs; P1.6 billion worth of volunteer time and labor man-hours; and P1.2 billion worth of donations-in-kind.

Lapus announced awards for 96 schools that mobilized the biggest number of individuals and organizations for the repair of schools.

For each of the 16 regions, three elementary schools and three secondary schools were selected as awardees, which were also categorized according to size.

DepEd also gave “hall of fame” awards to 16 schools that have topped the awards for three consecutive years.

Brigada Eskwela is spearheaded by DepEd’s Adopt-A-School Program which facilitates DepEd’s partnership with the private sector.

Lapus lauded school principals whom he described as school managers who “can create a ripple effect of the Bayanihan spirit in the community.”

“Engage all sectors of the community -- local businesses, the parents, the local government units and non-government organizations. Inform them of your current efforts and needs,” Lapus said.

The Philippines has been criticized for not allocating bigger resources to education.


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