At the rate some groups are responding to the call, it looks like the substance of “Brigada Eskwela” will extend beyond the May 21-16 official time-frame to fix and prepare the city’s public schools for the opening of classes on June 4.
After all, repairs and other needs come anytime of the year, agreed members of the United Baguio-Benguet Constructors Association (UBBCAS) who, last Tuesday called on city councilor Peter Fianza to explain the school support program.
The meeting presided over by association president Brent Quangey ended with some of the members offering to address some of the needs, while others promised to visit some schools to see what they could do.
“ I told them about the need for a railing that would enclose a day care center for the safety of its toddlers and at the same time provide hand support to elders passing by, as pointed out by the principal of a school we visited,” Fianza, chair of the city council committee on education, said.
Immediately, one of the members figured out his resources and then volunteered to install the railing, Fianza recalled. “Others said they were read y with a can of paint, a toilet fixture, a faucet or whatever.”
Launched by the Department of Education on 2003, “Brigada “ is a nation-wide public school maintenance program that taps various sectors of the community in preparing classrooms, desks and other facilities in time for the start of the school-year.
The city’s version was launched last Monday with mayor Mauricio Domogan, Fianza and city schools superintendent, Dr. Mary Lang-ayan rallying sectors to support the week-long program. With them were teachers, school principals, supervisors, parents and volunteers from the Baguio police and other agencies.
Nation-wide, the Baguio City National High School under principal, Dr. Elma Dona-al, is gunning for its fourth title as champion implementor, having taken the crown in 2005, 2007 and last year.
This year, the focus is on “the improvement of toilets and wash facilitiesas part of the DepEd’s effort to strengthen awareness of the importance of hygiene and sanitation among students”, as per memorandum from Education Secretary Armin Luistro.
Following the launching at city hall, Fianza visited some of the schools to confer with teachers and parents towards the listing of a “shopping list” of individual school needs for matching with the resources of groups and individuals like members of UBBCAS.
Last Thursday, he received a text advisory from one volunteer who said he had dispatched his crew to Don Mariano Marcos Elementary School to inventory needs and do repair work.
Earlier, Fianza filed an ordinance that was approved on second reading for an outlay of P1.5 million to be managed by the city mayor or the city administrator as the city’s annual counterpart to the “Brigada” on consonance with the “Adopt A School Program” under Republic Act 8525.
Other groups and individuals who would like to help may contact or visit any of the city’s public elementary and high schools. – Ramon Dacawi.