ROXAS MOBILIZES FAMILY, FRIENDS FOR ANNUAL 'BRIGADA ESKWELA'

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas will lead family members, friends and supporters on Monday for the kick-off of the Department of Education's week-long "Brigada Eskwela" Maintenance Week.

Roxas, chairman of the Senate education committee, has mobilized friends and family members, as well as supporters and staff members, to join him as he links up with teachers, parents, students and community members to do minor repairs and other maintenance work at the Manuel Roxas High School in Scout Chuatoco Street in Barangay Paligsahan, Quezon City.

"Mahalaga ang maayos at malinis na kapaligiran para mas ma-engganyong mag-aral ang ating mga kabataan. Magtulungan tayo," he said.

"Kailangan nating alagaan ang ating mga paaralan at siguruhing maayos at malinis ang mga silid kung saan natin hinuhubog ang ating mga kabataan. Habang alam nating maraming problema ang ating sistema ng edukasyon, ang bawat isa sa atin ay mayroong magagawa," he added.

'Brigada Eskwela' is an annual nationwide endeavor organized by the Department of Education in preparation for the opening of classes in June. Members of the school community come together to do minor repairs and other maintenance work on their schools, including the repainting of classroom walls and roofs, repair of leaking water pipes, boards, broken furniture, cleaning of toilets, and gardening, among others. This year's program will be conducted on May 18-23 in all public elementary and high schools nationwide.

Materials used during the weeklong effort will come from donation from local businesses and other companies as part of their corporate social responsibility programs. With no cash involved, 'Brigada Eskwela' has generated over P2.5 billion worth of donations in-kind and man-hours since it started in 2003.

Roxas stressed the value of having a stake in the public education system under the spirit of "bayanihan" as expressed his faith in improving Philippine education with the goodwill of many Filipinos.

Roxas' network of friends and supporters, called Friends of Mar, will be conducting their Brigada Eskwela effort in Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Naga, Camarines Sur, Manila, Cavite, Baguio, South Cotobato, Sorsogon, Tarlac, Lingayen among others. To volunteer in Brigada Eskwela as a Friend of Mar, email [email protected] or text 0916-6272010.