ILOILO City – Alongside the launch of Brigada Eskwela school cleanup today, the Department of Education (DepEd) in Western Visayas is calling on parents to enroll their children early as public schools across Panay Island and Guimaras begin the enrollment period for School Year 2025–2026.
Enrollment will run from June 9 to 13, and DepEd Region 6 expects over 1.1 million learners to register.
Simultaneously, the Brigada Eskwela campaign will be conducted, with the education department urging stakeholders, parents, and community members to help prepare school facilities. Contributions may include donations of learning or cleaning materials, but non-monetary support such as volunteer cleaning efforts is equally encouraged.
DepEd-6 information officer Hernani Escullar Jr. reminded parents that enrollment in public schools is free and should not be delayed until the last day to avoid overcrowding.
“Enrollment in public schools is completely free. That’s why we are emphasizing this — there should be no reason for a parent to say they cannot enroll their child due to lack of money,” said Escullar.
As for Brigada Eskwela, he clarified that this is not just about donations. “It reflects our belief that providing basic education is a shared responsibility. Even if you cannot donate, you can still help by volunteering your time to clean classrooms and ensure schools are ready for classes to start on June 16,” Escullar emphasized.
For the enrollment, parents must go to their preferred public school, bring the child’s certificate of live birth, and fill out the Basic Education Enrollment Form, which will be available from designated enrollment coordinators.
DepEd-6 is encouraging face-to-face enrollment to allow school personnel to immediately address any concerns, clarifications, or questions from parents.
In support of this initiative, DepEd-6 will activate its Oplan Balik Eskwela Help Desk starting today also to provide assistance and handle inquiries related to enrollment./PN
