BY ABE ALMIROL
DUPAX DEL SUR, Nueva Vizcaya (August 9)—The education sector has started flexing its muscle to face the challenges of a safe opening of the school year 2022-2023.
Rallying behind the enduring social mobilization brand “Brigada Eskwela,” Public Schools District Supervisor Rosie Calacala led a solidarity motorcade here on Monday.
Hundreds of community stakeholders and school officials trooped to the gymnasium of Barangay Mangayang Elementary School where the campaign was formally launched despite a rainy day.
With the theme “Brigada Eskwela: Tugon sa Hamon ng Ligtas na Balik-Aral,” the campaign hopes to mobilize the private and public sectors, mobilize resources and services, and install safe procedures and assistive facilities to deal with the new normal.
Earlier, Education Secretary Sara Duterte ordered that the resumption of face-to-face classes must happen within August, the official start of the school year.
Calacala also enjoined teachers to tap Corporate Social Responsibility funds in the campaign.
Mayor Magaway admitted that local government units (LGUs) have limited funds and thus, the need to widen the stakeholder base of the Brigada Eskwela ’22 campaign.
Joining the DepEd in the launch were LGU officials led by Dupax del Sur Mayor Neil Magaway, Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Dennis Clemencia, the Liga ng mga Barangay, Barangay Council members, Barangay Health Workers and Nutrition Scholars, the Bureau of Fire, Philippine National Police, and Mangayang Elementary School Principal Reynaldo Salas who serves as the campaign’s focal person.
Clemencia said the Department of Interior and Local Government is under strict instructions by Secretary Benhur Abalos to lead in the mobilization of LGUs to ensure the smooth schools opening.
As of August 1, the Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya counted 128 active cases of Covid 19 confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR swab test.
A number of rapid antigen test or RAT conducted among LGU employees here rendered a few positive results, prompting Magaway to order a daily disinfection procedure every 3:00 p.m. at the municipal hall.