ZARRAGA, Iloilo – The Iloilo Provincial Government has thrown its full support behind efforts to uplift remote public schools, launching a strong show of multisectoral cooperation during the Brigada Eskwela kickoff at Tubigan Elementary School in Barangay Talauguis, one of the province’s most underserved learning communities.
Led by Provincial Administrator Dr. Raul Banias, the provincial government partnered with the Provincial Education Core Group and the Provincial Health Office (PHO) to distribute school supplies and initiate a dengue awareness campaign. The activity targeted schools on the boundary of Iloilo’s 2nd and 4th districts — areas flagged as highly vulnerable to both disease and educational neglect.
“It will take a village to improve this school,” said Banias, assuring the community of sustained provincial support under the leadership of Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. “The commitment of our partners is already a clear manifestation that we can make a difference here in Tubigan Elementary School as well as in the entire Division of Iloilo.”
The effort included not just the distribution of educational materials but also practical interventions to support school facilities. Donations from government and private stakeholders included cleaning materials, paint, electric fans, printers, speakers, tables, chairs, motorcycles, and cash.
Zarraga Mayor Joefil Soldevilla acknowledged the significance of the event, noting Tubigan Elementary School’s critical role in reaching marginalized learners. “I guarantee that here in Tubigan Elementary School, they are truly valued. Because it is here where the last, the least, and the lost in our municipality go to school,” she said.
The Department of Education Division of Iloilo, led by Schools Division Superintendent Ernesto Servillon, announced a ₱500,000 increase in the school’s Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE). “Right now, we are faced with many challenges in improving, strengthening, and enriching what our children know,” Servillon said. “The division office is fully engaged to show our sincerity in this mission and to let this community know that we care deeply about them.”
Highlighting the connection between education and health, the PHO’s Dr. Patricia Labis conducted an information session on dengue prevention, stressing the 4S strategy — Search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, Self-protection, Seek early consultation, and Support fogging in hotspot areas. She also warned that children aged 1 to 9 in flood-prone zones like Tubigan are most at risk.
Provincial School Board Secretary Maria Freda Fajardo emphasized that education must be a shared responsibility. “We need the help of everybody, especially the private sector and the community,” she said. “Educational challenges are sectoral issues that cannot be resolved by DepEd and LGUs alone.”
Stakeholders from various sectors — including the Indigenous Peoples Group (IPG), barangay officials, private donors, civic organizations, and security personnel from the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police — signed a Commitment Pledge to sustain their support for education.
In a message read during the event, Education Secretary Sonny Angara reminded participants that Brigada Eskwela is just the start. “Our bayanihan does not end here just because our schools are now clean. Let us remember that this is all geared toward improving the quality of education. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that each child learns to read and understand inside the classroom.”
The province’s proactive involvement in Brigada Eskwela 2025 underscores its broader advocacy for inclusive development, especially in areas where access to quality education remains a pressing concern./PN
