"Brigada Eskwela," also known as "National Schools Maintenance Week" staged before the opening of classes, is a nationwide voluntary efforts of parents, teachers and the community to undertake minor repairs on the schools in preparation of the school year.
It also involves contributions-in-kind from civic-minded groups or individuals and local government units which donations include various construction materials like lumber, cement, paint, sand and gravel, hollow blocks, nails, plywood and GI sheets.
Dr. Sol Forcadilla-Matugas, DepEd director for Region 8 based in this town, said the principals of the 15 school awardees – five each from the three Visayas regions – received their respective "Brigada" trophies in an appropriate rite during the staging of the National Educators Congress last week in Davao City.
Matugas said the five awarded schools from each region were categories by DepEd as large elementary school (LES), small elementary school (SES), large secondary school (LSS), small secondary schools (SSS), and school-at-large (SAL).
According to Matugas, the DepEd identified the winning "most innovative ‘Brigada’ schools" in Eastern Visayas and their respective principals as Southern Leyte’s Tomas Oppus Elementary School (SES) under principal Jocelyn F. Solana; Northern Samar’s Catarman I Central School (LES), Juan S. Aludario; Ormoc City’s Dolores National High School (SSS), Juliet B. Montebon; Tacloban City’s Sakahan National High School (LSS), Emmanuel Naval, and Biliran’s Talahid Elementary School (SAL), Estrelleta D. Dajoton.
Matugas said the other Visayas "most innovative ‘Brigada’ schools," as listed by DepEd, are as follows:
Western Visayas – Old Sagay Elementary School (LES) of Sagay City, Jonel Manale; Roberto S. Benedicto Elementary School (SES) of La Carlota City, Melba N. Canet; Dona Monserrat Lopez National High School (LSS) of Silay City, Angelina Guinanao; Tapi National High School (SSS) of Kabankalan City, Marietta Garolacan, and Carmen Elementary School (SAL) of Negros Occidental, Haydee E. Alipoon.
Central Visayas – Talisay City Central Elementary School (LES), Ma. Lourdes L. Ipong; Azagra Elementary School (SES) of Tanjay City, Milagros S. Mananquil; Mahinay National High School (LSS) of Negros Oriental, Warlita U. Dago-oc; Carlos P. Garcia Memorial National High School (SSS) of Bohol, Dr. Ma. Fe P. Comahig, and Borbon Central Elementary School (SAL) of Cebu.
Matugas said the education department’s "Brigada" program, initiated by former Education Secretary Edilberto C. de Jesus, is administered by education Undersecretary for Finance Juan Miguel Luz.
