Visiting US Navy men to help clean up three schools in Lapu-Lapu

AT LEAST 30 US Navy personnel from the visiting USS Pearl Harbor will help fix and clean three public schools in Lapu-Lapu City next week as part of its community service activities during their five-day goodwill visit here.

The ship arrived in the Cebu International Port yesterday.

The US Marines and US Navy sailors will join Philippine Navy personnel in conducting the yearly Brigada Eskwela activity on Tuesday , said Ensign Ison, Naval forces Central (Navforcen) spokesman.

US Navymen will help clean and repair the Canjulao Elementary School, the Looc Elementary School and the Looc High school. It will be a simultaneous activity in which troops and personnel of Pearl Harbor will be divided into three groups, Ison added.

The USS Pearl Harbor, an amphibious landing ship, carries 22 US officers, 356 enlisted personnel and more than 300 Marine personnel.

On Monday, USS Pearl Harbor officials will make courtesy calls on Camp Lapu-Lapu officials, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

A soccer game will be held with Philippine Air Force personnel on Wednesday. The ship is scheduled to leave Cebu on May 31.

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Tweeny M. Malinao | Cebu Daily News/ Philippine Daily Inquirer | May 27, 2012 | Article Link

1,000 soldiers help prepare Metro Manila schools for opening

MANILA, Philippines -- About a thousand soldiers from Metro Manila were mobilized Monday to take part in the annual National Schools Maintenance Week or "Brigada Eskwela" spearheaded by the Department of Education (DepEd).

The move, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is part of the Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan to bring the military closer to the civilian population.

The National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) has deployed 1,000 soldiers and reserve forces from the Philippine Army, the Philippine Navy, Special Operations Wing of the Philippine Air Force, and the 7th Civil Relations Group of the AFP to join the DepEd in cleaning, repairing, painting, and sanitizing school facilities. Soldiers nationwide were also deployed to assist in cleaning the schools. 

AFP Chief of Staff Gen Jessie Dellosa said that “the AFP’s participation in this year’s Brigada Eskwela is another opportunity for the military to prove to the public their enduring commitment to the multi-stakeholder, whole-of-nation principles embodied in  the AFP Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan.”

According to DepEd, the 2012 Brigada Eskwela will focus on sanitation which includes the improvement of toilets and wash facilities to give emphasis on the importance of school sanitation and hygiene. This year’s repair and cleanup activities will also help improve the schools of indigenous communities.

Brigada Eskwela mobilizes parents, teachers, students, civic and business groups, local government units, non-government units, and other community residents in repairing and sprucing up of schools two weeks before the opening of classes on June 4. All of the 45,000 public elementary and secondary schools nationwide are expected to take part in the Brigada Eskwela week.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines is always ready to lend its helping hand especially in addressing the needs of the society. As classes will soon start, we will see to it that our young people have access to a clean and safe environment conducive to learning. 

Our soldiers are not only tasked to defend the country’s territory and sovereignty but are also expected to contribute to the uplifting of living conditions and learning environment of all Filipinos,” Dellosa said.

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Abigail Kwok | InterAksyon.com | May 21, 2012 | Article Link