Brigada Eskwela, Oplan Balik Eskwela start June 9

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to launch two major initiatives—Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela—aimed at ensuring a smooth and organized school opening for the upcoming academic year.

In a regional memorandum, DepEd-VII Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez announced that Brigada Eskwela will run from June 9 to 13, 2025.

Jimenez emphasized that the five-day activity is designed to uphold “the spirit of bayanihan, encouraging community collaboration” in preparing schools for the official start of classes on June 16, 2025.

This year’s theme, “Sama-sama Para sa Bayang Bumabasa,” underscores the importance of literacy and collective responsibility in creating conducive learning environments.

Beyond the usual maintenance work, this year's Brigada Eskwela will include a variety of activities such as reading and storytelling sessions, inventory assessments, tree planting, learner health check-ups, and anti-bullying workshops.

Expenses related to the conduct of these activities will be charged against the allocated funds of the host School Division Office (SDO), region, division, school, or other fund sources, subject to standard accounting and auditing regulations.

Simultaneously, DepEd will also implement Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE), a nationwide, multi-agency effort set from June 9 to 20.

“The OBE is part of the Department's effort to ensure that learners from public and private schools are properly enrolled. It aims to address problems, queries, and other concerns commonly encountered by the public at the start of the SY,” stated DepEd Undersecretary Fatima Panontongan in a separate memorandum.

Several government agencies—including the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)—will collaborate to ensure safety, order, health, and smooth transportation logistics as the school year begins. — (FREEMAN)