SAN RAFAEL, Bulacan— The Department of Education Central Luzon Office, through the Schools Division Office of Bulacan, launched the combined Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela programs at the Lydia D. Villangca Trade School in San Rafael, Bulacan on Monday, July 22.

The event was attended by UNICEF Philippines Chief of Education Akihiro Fushimi and Goodwill Ambassador Gary Valenciano, along with various education partners and stakeholders, including local government officials, private sector contributors, and other donors.

Assistant Regional Director Jessie Amin detailed that these programs are designed to ensure that all public schools in the region are fully prepared for the first day of classes for SY 2024-2025.

The Brigada Eskwela (BE) is a national school maintenance initiative that enlists the support of all education stakeholders to contribute their time, effort, and resources to ensure public schools are ready for the school year. This six-day event involves local communities, parents, alumni, civic groups, local businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private individuals, as well as teachers and students volunteering their time and skills for clean-ups, minor to medium repairs, and maintenance work in classrooms and school grounds.

The 2024 Brigada Eskwela, with the theme “Bayanihan Para sa Matatag na Paaralan,” will follow the procedures outlined in DO 021, s.2023, or the Brigada Eskwela Implementing Guidelines.

On the other hand, Oplan Balik Eskwela is part of the Department’s initiative to ensure that students from both public and private schools are properly enrolled. It aims to address issues, queries, and other concerns commonly faced by the public at the beginning of the school year.

Additionally, OBE Public Assistance Command Centers (PACCs) will be established at the central, regional, and schools division offices to handle, process, and respond to simple inquiries, information requests, and complaints from the public, including those forwarded by other DepEd offices, and to assist in disseminating and clarifying DepEd policies, programs, projects, and processes relevant to the start of classes.

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