EDUCATOR’S CORNER: BNHS Brigada Eskwela 2015 draws 6,000 volunteers

MALAYBALAY CITY (BukidnonNews.Net/ July 2) Bukidnon National High School’s Brigada Eskwela volunteer program last summer gathered a total of 5,990 volunteers and raised a total of around P1 million from donations and equivalent labor cost. Volunteers repaired and repainted classrooms, comfort rooms and roofs from May 18 to 23. They also constructed a new roofed walk, pathway railings and a volleyball court as well as rehabilitate the old multipurpose court. The number of volunteers this year is 1,427 more than last year’s volunteer count at 4,563. BNHS reached the feat despite its exemption from this year’s competition for Best Brigada Eskwela Implementing Schools. BNHS won the contest for three consecutive years earning the Hall of Fame honor. It was given a year of break from joining the national competition. Students, parents and officials of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) composed the main volunteers. Representatives from other sectors also joined like those from the local government units of barangay governments, the City of Malaybalay and the Province of Bukidnon. There were also personnel from the Traffic Management Center and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Malaybalay who attended. The Philippine National Police was also represented by officers from the Bukidnon Provincial Police Office and the Malaybalay City Police Station along with representatives from the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade. The Malaybalay City Water District also sent their representatives. BNHS alumni and members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) and the Red Cross Youth (RCY) joined the community work. There were also representatives from religious groups like Christ Commission Fellowship (CCF) and The Church of Christ of the Latter Day Saints who joined the project. Personnel and officials of private companies also joined the project along with teachers from private institutions. Pariso L. Orong, then BNHS secondary school principal, said there was a need for the school to sustain its Brigada Eskwela achievements this year even though it’s no longer competing. The Brigada Eskwela this year raised a total value of PhP 1,099, 844.90 from donations and equivalent labor cost. This was the amount that the Department of Education (DepEd) was supposed to spend for the maintenance and repair of the school. Donations, which include cash, materials, and snacks, are valued at P202, 844.90 while the labor cost of the volunteers was valued at Php 897,000.00. The school management used the formula: total number of volunteers multiplied with the number of hours rendered at P37.5/hr.) Last November, BNHS was awarded as Best Implementing School of Brigada Eskwela National Finals for Big School Category. It was also one of the 22 Best Implementing schools out of 95 school awardees that made it to the Hall of Fame. Last year’s Brigada had drawn 4,563 volunteers and raised a total donations and labor cost valued at P1,546,122.00. By 2016, the school can already compete in the Exceptional category of the Brigada Eskwela National Finals. DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela also known as the National Schools Maintenance Week focused on the theme “Tayo Para sa Kalinisan at Kahandaan ng Ating mga Paaralan.- From bukidnonnews.net