DepEd XI launches Brigada Eskwela in Tagum

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, May 22 (PIA):  Nine schools divisions of the Department of Education (DepEd) XI gathered yesterday in Tagum City National High School  to launch the Brigada Eskwela  2012, and conveyed thanks and appreciation to Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy for donating school furnitures.        

As  an expression of thanksgiving,  DepEd Regional Director Susana Estigoy awarded Uy a Plaque of Appreciation signed by  DepEd Sec.  Bro. Armin Luistro during the launching  ceremony attended by DepEd schools division officials.        

In her speech,  Estigoy viewed the Brigada launching as a fitting moment to thank Uy at a time when DepEd started calling on the public to take part in the crusade for volunteerism to help public schools prepare for the coming school year opening on June 4.        

Estigoy cited Uy  for coming up with a “unique” initiative he called as “Care for  School Chairs” program through  which school chair needs of far-flung public schools in the region were answered.        

“This is something very unique in the entire country.  Mayor Uy has featured Tagum City to have been keeping alive the Filipino spirit of bayanihan,”  she said.        

The Care for School Chairs program sprung from Executive Order 23  signed by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on Feb. 01, 2011, declaring a moratorium on the  cutting and harvesting of timber  in the natural and residual forests.        

Upon knowing about  the volumes of confiscated logs impounded in  Laak, Compostela Valley,  Uy asked Compostela Valley Gov. Arturo T. Uy , in July last year, for supply of such logs to be fabricated into school chairs and desks.        

Having owned furniture fabrication equipment  housed at its Motorpool, the Tagum City Government started producing and distributing  in August school arm chairs, desks, teacher’s tables and kiddie chairs, giving priority to public schools in Davao del  Norte.        

As of May 21,  a total of 42,244 Tagum City fabricated school desks and chairs were distributed to various public elementary  and secondary schools in the Davao Region.  The majority number of 28,952 of which were distributed in Davao del Norte; 12,368 in Compostela Valley province;  216, Davao City; 513, Davao del Sur.        

Tagum City also fabricated  and distributed 166 double deck beds  to the regional office Philippine National Police, the Philippine Army, the Bureau of Jail Management and  Penology (BJMP) and to  Compostela Valley.        

These were produced from the 2,155 cubic meters (35,311.53 board feet) confiscated logs donated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) XI in support of the Care for the School Chairs program.        

Mayor Uy also extended 195 pieces of school furniture to Payatas Elementary School in Quezon Province.

Uy harnesses the Filipino spirit of volunteerism as he encourages free-of-charge labor of  city government workers, members of parents-teachers association, private company workers and national government employees.  He also solicits and welcomes donated paint supply and plywood.        

In his speech du ring the awarding ceremony, Uy  revealed  that the city government of Tagum saves as much as P58 for every school chair and desk painted  through volunteer work.        

DepEd officials at the regional and division levels  Monday put in their  share of volunteer work dubbed “Brigadahan”, painting school chairs using paint from Boysen which donated 25 gallons for the Brigada Eskwela launching activity.  (PIA-XI/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)