DepEd urges public to join Brigada Eskwela in Marawi

MANILA — Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones on Wednesday urged the public to take part in revitalizing education in Marawi City through Brigada Eskwela.

Briones made the call following President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration that Marawi City had been liberated from terrorists after more than four months of battle against the ISIS-inspired Maute group.

“As soon as we will be allowed by the military to go back to Marawi, we will hold a Brigada Eskwela for Marawi,” said Briones during the 43rd Philippine Business Conference and Expo at the Manila Hotel.

“And in that Brigada Eskwela, all of you are invited to participate in rebuilding the schools, in repainting, giving the books, seats and everything else to make life continue for the children of Marawi,” Briones added.

Briones said out of the 69 schools in the strife-torn city, 20 had been “completely and totally devastated”.

Meanwhile, the remaining local schools are in need of repairs, she noted.

Briones earlier said DepEd would need some PHP2.3 billion to rebuild and repair all the local schools in Marawi.

She noted there are 27,000 displaced Marawi children all over the country.

“They are enrolled. We enrolled them without documentation because we want the children to have a sense of continuity war or no war at all,” she said.

By conducting Brigada Eskwela anew in the embattled city, DepEd aims to help displaced learners, teachers, and personnel rebuild their lives by repairing damaged schools and resuming education as soon as safety and security permits.

“We challenge you, ask you, invite you to join us with the launch of Brigada Eskwela. Join us to the campaign to rebuild Marawi,” Briones said. (PNA)