Australian Embassy joins DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela

THE AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY in the Philippines helped schools across the Philippines prepare for the opening of classes by joining the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Brigada Eskwela.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely joined parents and other stakeholders in repainting teacher tables and student armchairs at Camp Siongco Elementary School in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on May 19.

Ambassador Gorely also handed over construction materials for minor classroom repair, construction manual, and classroom construction repair and maintenance posters to the school.

“We are happy to help schools prepare for the opening of classes in June. The Embassy has participated in the Brigada Eskwela since 2010. This is part of Australia’s broader support to the Philippines’ education reform,” Ms. Gorely said.

“The Philippines and Australia have been longstanding friends and partners. We are pleased to be supporting Brigada Eskwela in time with the celebration of the first Philippines-Australia Friendship Day this weekend.” Ms. Gorely added.

Launched in 2003, Brigada Eskwela promotes the Filipino spirit of bayanihan or volunteerism, bringing together parents and members of the school community and partners from the private sector.

Australia participated in the national launch of Brigada Eskwela on May 15 in Cebu City. Australian Embassy First Secretary Felicity Lee distributed the Ligtas ang Batang Handa (A Prepared Child is a Safe Child) promotional video and print materials to selected schools.

Produced by ABS-CBN’s Bantay Bata 163 with funding support from the Australian Government’s Direct Aid Program, Ligtas ang Batang Handa promotes emergency and calamity awareness, helping children become better prepared for emergencies or calamities.

Ms. Lee and representatives from the Australia Government-funded Basic Education Sector Transformation (BEST) Program joined the Partners’ Gallery WalkIn Exhibit and motorcade at the DepEd-XII Ecotech Center in Barangay Lahug, Cebu.

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones officiated the National Brigada Eskwela opening ceremony at the Ramon Duterte National High School, also in Cebu.

In Manila, at least 100 volunteers from the Australian Embassy in the Philippines and BEST Program led a clean-up drive and distributed school supplies and classroom repair materials at Padre Zamora Elementary School in Pasay City on May 17. Selected schools also received cleaning and repair materials from the BEST Program.

In Mindanao, P1.7-million classroom repair materials were also distributed.