The Department of Education (DepEd) officially launched Brigada Eskwela 2025 on Monday, June 9, calling on communities nationwide to come together in preparing schools for the upcoming academic year.

As volunteers gear up to clean, repair, and ready classrooms, a teachers’ group urged the government to provide stronger support and increased funding to ensure quality education and a smooth start to classes across the country.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara led the kickoff of Brigada Eskwela 2025 at Barihan Elementary School in Malolos, Bulacan.

The event highlighted preparations for the June 16 school opening under the theme, “Sama-Sama Para sa Bayang Bumabasa.”

The President personally inspected classroom repairs—including ceiling, window, and door restorations—and viewed archival images showing typhoon-related damage.

DepEd said this underscores the need for disaster resilience and urgent facility rehabilitation in schools.

“Siguro ito ang pinili niya kasi gusto niyang makita ang totoong estado ng ating mga eskwelahan at kung sino ang matutulungan niya (Maybe this is what he chose because he wants to see the real state of our schools and find out who he can help),” Angara said in an interview.

He noted that even before the President’s visit, internet connectivity upgrades had already begun at the school—a long-standing concern in the area.

The school, which needs more classrooms, also benefited from donations from the private sector, according to DepEd.

While DepEd lacks funding to acquire land, Angara said local governments typically provide the lots, while the national government funds classroom construction. “Meron po tayong naka-program dito (We have something programmed here),” he assured.

At Barihan ES, over 300 school bags with supplies will be distributed on the first day of classes, according to DepEd.

Brigada Eskwela 2025, scheduled from June 9 to 13, mobilizes teachers, parents, volunteers, and private partners to clean and repair public schools before classes resume.

The National Kickoff Program for this year’s Brigada Eskwela was led by the Schools Division Office of Albay.

The DepEd Chief also addressed key education policies, including the Senior High School (SHS) voucher program, which has shifted from a prepaid to a postpaid system.

“Kailangan ipakita na enrolled muna yung bata bago bayaran (It’s necessary to show that the child is enrolled before payment can be made),” he explained, adding that tighter security measures are now in place to prevent fraudulent refund claims.

If anomalies are suspected, Angara said cases may be filed against the erring schools and their officials.

“Pag anomalya, pwedeng kasuhan iyan (If there’s an anomaly, legal action can be taken),” he warned, noting that schools and officials refusing to comply with voucher regulations could face legal consequences.

On the upcoming school opening on June 16, Angara noted: “Medyo maulan na pero hindi kasing lakas ng 2024. Maganda na inagahan na ng ating Pangulo yung pasukan natin (It’s a bit rainy now, but not as intense as in 2024. It was a good move by the President to start the school year earlier),” referring to last year’s heavy floods in Metro Manila and Calabarzon.

Angara said President Marcos is expected to visit other schools in the province as part of his continued push for educational reforms and readiness ahead of the new academic year.

Moreover, Angara issued an appeal for community action: “Paghandaan na po natin ang pagbubukas ng klase. Kailangan po ng mga eskwelahan ninyo ang inyong mga tulong. Sana sama-sama po tayo dito (Let’s prepare for the opening of classes. Your schools need your help. We can do this together).”

While praising community efforts, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) emphasized that Brigada Eskwela should not replace the government’s responsibility to ensure adequate school infrastructure.

“Brigada Eskwela highlights the bayanihan spirit of our communities, but let us not forget that school infrastructure, operations, and maintenance are a state obligation—not a burden to be shouldered by private citizens, community members, or teachers, even if voluntary,” said TDC Spokesperson Jim Lester Beleno in a statement issued June 8.

TDC cited chronic underfunding, a backlog in classroom construction, and a lack of maintenance staff as persistent problems that cannot be solved by volunteerism alone.

They urged Congress and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to increase allocations and ensure the timely disbursement of funds, especially to underserved areas.

“We appreciate the volunteers who paint classrooms, clean school grounds, and repair furniture, but we must ask—where is the consistent government funding for these essential tasks?” Beleno asked.

Despite DepEd’s call for “shared responsibility,” TDC stressed that chronic underfunding continues to burden public schools—leaving them dependent on the goodwill of communities just to get classrooms ready for the school year.

The group called on the national government to boost funding for infrastructure, utilities, repairs, and maintenance, and to ensure the timely release of resources—especially for schools in remote and underserved areas.