By Nimfa Estrellado Lucena West I Elementary School's Brigada Eskwela 2025 launched with a community-wide effort, featuring a parade, pl...
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| Lucena West I Elementary School's Brigada Eskwela 2025 launched with a community-wide effort, featuring a parade, pledges, facility clean-up by parents, students, and partners (including PAF), and ongoing enrollment, reflecting strong cooperation for the new school year. |
LUCENA CITY, Quezon - As preparations for School Year 2025-2026 intensify, Quezon Province LGUs are ensuring families have what they need for a fresh start. Local government units across the province are actively working to ease the financial burden on families and ensure schools are ready for students, distributing free school supplies and organizing community preparations.
In Tiaong, the local government is again showing its commitment to education, as Mayor RJ Mea and Vice Mayor Dick Umali are set to distribute free school supplies to 25,013 public school students for the third year. This "Balik Eskwela" initiative aims to provide support for students from kindergarten to senior high school, including those in Special Needs Education (SNED) and Alternative Learning System (ALS) programs.
Distribution is scheduled to start on Monday, June 16, 2025, with initial handouts at Bukal Elementary School at 8:00 AM and Hilirang Buli Elementary School at 10:00 AM. Each student will get a package with pencils, notebooks, pad paper, and plastic envelopes. Younger students will also get crayons, while senior high schoolers will be given binders. More distribution schedules will be announced on the official Facebook page.
Mayor Mea spoke about the administration's dedication in a recent Facebook post, stating, "We are doing everything we can to support the future of Tiaong's youth. That's why we have yearly distributions of 'Balik Eskwela' packages, to help families with expenses and prepare students for the new school year." This support is part of Mayor Mea's 7K Agenda, which prioritizes education and youth empowerment. This year's supplies will also include leather shoes, providing an alternative to the MUNwalk sneakers given last year.
Meanwhile, on June 11, 2025, the Municipality of Lucban launched "Brigada Oplan Balik Eskwela 2025," a collaborative effort to prepare public schools for the academic year. Under the leadership of Mayor Agustin "Tenten" Villaverde, various LGU departments sent volunteers to PE May-It Manasa and PE Piis. Their services covered preparatory activities, including clean-up drives, risk and fire safety assessments, infrastructure inspections, health and sanitation checks (with a focus on MPOX and EREID prevention, and waterworks inspections), waste management, traffic management, security assistance, grass cutting, and overall coordination and documentation.
Mayor Villaverde spoke about the program's reach, stating, "All public school students in Lucban are entitled to these provisions under Brigada Oplan Balik Eskwela 2025. We want to make sure no child is left behind, and no teacher is left unsupported." He also said that investing in both students and educators is key to the city’s long-term education strategy.
In Lucena City, the Brigada Eskwela 2025 Kick-Off Ceremony was held at Lucena West 1 Elementary School. The event was made possible under the leadership of Principal 2. Ruwena Adormeyo and through the efforts of the school's teachers, including School VE Coordinator Jojo Pineda, VE Chairperson Mary Grace de Galicia, and Maria Kristen Parenas. Supporters included Barangay Captain Bartolome Kumiak, SPTA President Ferdinand Mata, members of the Tactical Operations Wing Southern Luzon, parents, volunteers, and students.
The launch of this year's Brigada Eskwela started with a parade led by the West 1 Drum and Lyre Corps. This was followed by a program that outlined the school's plans and activities for the 2025-2026 school year. At the same time, an orientation on PhilHealth's National Health Insurance Program and a briefing on Brigada Eskwela Mechanics were held.
Commitment to the initiative was shown through the signing of a Pledge of Commitment by teachers and school staff, and a Commitment Wall Signing by volunteers, symbolizing their support for Brigada Eskwela 2025. After the program, teachers, parents, students, and volunteers cleaned classrooms and school facilities. Student enrollment for the upcoming school year also happened at the same time. The Lucena West 1 Elementary School administration asked everyone to participate and join the Brigada Eskwela efforts.
The Department of Education (DepEd) earlier announced that public schools nationwide would open classes for School Year 2025–2026 on June 16, 2025. DepEd is currently preparing to ensure schools are ready to welcome students on this date. DepEd Assistant Secretary for Operations Jocelyn Andaya recently stressed the importance of early enrollment and community cooperation through the annual Brigada Eskwela, highlighting the effort needed for a successful school opening.
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