NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) – Key officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) - Biliran Division informed the listeners and viewers of the recent PIA Biliran's Pulong-pulong ng Bayan radio program over Radio Natin - Naval on the on-going Brigada Eskwela and the Division's activities ang programs for the upcoming School Year 2021- 2022.

Ryan Remandaban, senior education program specialist informed that this school year's Brigada Eskwela started last August 3 and will end on September 30 though classes will start as early on September 13.

As we are all adopting for the new normal, an orientation for the Brigada Eskwela guidelines was also held last August 10 to 12, he added.

Meanwhile, Lucille Roa, chief education supervisor said that for this school year, they have six major programs and activities that needs partnership donations.

These include the construction and rehabilitation of handwashing facility in school, Gulayan sa Paaralan, child protection program, gender and development, disaster risk reduction management, and Information and Communications Technology.

"Our children are the core of DepEd, they are our heart and they must be protected in any form of harassment, that will be our priority," she added, pertaining to the child protection program.

Roa futher said they are also advocating and urging learners to have gulayan in their backyard in support to the school-based feeding program.

She also said they are optimistic that the number of enrollees for the upcoming school year will increase where they conducted early registration as early as March 26 to April 30.

Remandaban said that last school year, they received donations in cash and in kind amounting to P17-M.

For this school year, the things they needed the most include COVID-19 prevention and response (cleaning materials and disinfectants), support modular distance learning (bondpapers, printers, ink and distribution boxes), solid waste management, repair and repainting of school facilities, cleaning of the school surroundings, vaccination program info drive and books, and other learning materials or resources.

"With open arms we will be accepting all donations, either small or big, it will be a big help," Roa said. (LDL/AMFK/PIA-8/Biliran)