Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced the expansion of cooperation between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to hasten the response in the cleanup and repair of schools affected by Tropical Cyclone Maymay and the southwest monsoon, or “habagat.”
Following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the two agencies will focus on Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD)–Brigada Eskwela convergence.
Angara thanked DOLE, under the leadership of Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino, and the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES), led by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, for lending labor and operational support to prepare schools and for the emergency cleanup.
“Ang ating pakikipagtulungan sa DOLE sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ay patunay na kapag sama-sama ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan, mas mabilis nating maihahatid ang tulong sa ating mga kababayan,” the education chief said.
“Ito ang tunay na diwa ng bayanihan—nagbibigay tayo ng pangkabuhayan sa ating mga manggagawa habang tinitiyak na ligtas at handa ang ating mga paaralan.”
“Ito ang tunay na diwa ng bayanihan—nagbibigay tayo ng pangkabuhayan sa ating mga manggagawa habang tinitiyak na ligtas at handa ang ating mga paaralan,” the education head added.
Based on the initial data of DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS), there are 2,424 classrooms in different regions affected. The count includes 403 totally destroyed classrooms, 505 that have been heavily damaged while 1,516 are slightly hit.
The Regional and Schools Division Office continue to gather data to determine the schools that will need top priority in the deployment of emergency cleanup personnel.
The TUPAD-Brigada Eskwela convergence was successfully implemented using the administration’s whole-of-government approach, giving temporary employment to the local community while preparing facilities in public schools for the opening of classes.
Under the initiative, DOLE funded the deployment of 168,517 temporary workers in 9,186 public schools nationwide. It was able to allot P1.07 billion as financial aid to support the operation to prepare the opening of classes.
Angara launded DOLE for the quick response by providing emergency labor assistance to help public schools affected by “habagat”, reinforcing the commitment of DepEd to swiftly take action during times of disaster through the help of different government agencies.
“Ngayong hinaharap natin ang pinsala ng habagat, muli tayong nagpapasalamat sa DOLE sa kanilang mabilis na pagtugon.”
“Ngayong hinaharap natin ang pinsala ng habagat, muli tayong nagpapasalamat sa DOLE sa kanilang mabilis na pagtugon,” Angara said.
“Sa tulong ng ating emergency labor augmentation, mas mabilis nating malilinis at maipapaayos ang ating mga silid-aralan upang maiwasan ang anumang abala sa pag-aaral ng ating mga kabataan,” he concluded.
