DepEd holds Adopt-A-School stakeholders forum in Dumaguete 

By Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, May 22 (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) City Schools Division in Dumaguete City held a multi-stakeholders’ forum to mark the nationwide simultaneous launching on Tuesday of Brigada Eskwela 2012 program. 

The forum held at North City Elementary School gathered stakeholders from civic groups, non-government organizations, government agencies, private and business sectors who contributed to the development of public education in the city. 

During the forum, Dr. Ramir Uytico, officer-in-charge of the City Schools Division, thanked the stakeholders while citing the gains achieved by DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela in the city as a result of the help extended by its partners in the private sector. 

Brigada Eskwela is an annual nationwide program that mobilizes parents, volunteers, students, teachers, and local government units in repairing and cleaning-up schools facilities before the opening of classes in June. 

The program is mandated by Republic Act 8525 or the Adopt-A-School law of 1998. 

During the forum, Gov. Roel Degamo said the provincial government has long been strongly supporting DepEd’s aim of improving the public education system in the province. 

He said the provincial government under his administration built a total of 36 classrooms in the province to address classroom shortage. 

The provincial government also allotted around P4 million for the education co-mentor program implemented through DepEd in response to the shortage of teachers in public schools here. 

He said education plays a major part in the province’s drive to stamp out insurgency. 

“By giving residents in remote areas access to education, this would greatly reduce the support that the insurgents are receiving from hinterland communities,” said Degamo. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)