Gov't hires 243,000 workers for Brigada Eskwela under TUPAD
Published Jun 1, 2026 02:24 pm
At A Glance
- The government will hire 243,000 workers nationwide under the TUPAD program for Brigada Eskwela.
- Beneficiaries will help prepare public schools for the opening of classes on June 8.
- Workers will receive P5,000 for participating in school cleanup and improvement activities.
Malacañan Palace (Manila Bulletin/File Photo)
The government has tapped 243,000 workers nationwide under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program to help prepare public schools for the opening of classes while providing temporary jobs and income support to Filipino families.
The deployment of workers for Brigada Eskwela began on Sunday, June 1, ahead of the June 8 opening of classes.
Malacañang said the initiative was in line with President Marcos’ directive to ensure that classrooms and school facilities are safe, ready, and conducive to learning before students return to school.
‘Dalawang mahalagang layunin’
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the program addresses both school preparedness and the livelihood needs of Filipino families.
“Isa ito sa mga programang tumatama sa dalawang mahalagang layunin sa isang hakbang (This is one of the programs that addresses two important objectives in a single move),” he said.
“Habang naghahanda tayo ng mas maayos at mas ligtas na mga paaralan para sa ating mga estudyante, nabibigyan din natin ng trabaho at kita ang kanilang mga magulang at mga kamag-anak (While we prepare safer and better schools for students, we are also providing jobs and income to their parents and relatives),” he added.
Recto said the assistance would help families shoulder school-related expenses.
“Ibig sabihin nito, may pagkain sa hapag-kainan, may pambili ng mga school supplies, may pambaon ang mga bata, at handa ang mga silid-aralan sa pagbubukas ng klase (This means there is food on the table, money for school supplies, allowance for children, and classrooms ready for the opening of classes),” he said.
School cleanup, repairs
From June 1 to 5, TUPAD beneficiaries will be assigned to public schools across the country and will receive P5,000 in compensation.
Their tasks include classroom cleaning, waste management, hauling of furniture and learning materials, clearing vegetation, landscaping, repainting, and other non-technical school improvement works.
The initial rollout covers 5,000 priority schools, including large schools, mega schools, and geographically isolated and disadvantaged area (GIDA) schools nationwide.
The nationwide deployment followed a coordination meeting on May 27 among Recto, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Francis Tolentino, and senior officials of the Department of Education (DepEd).
The meeting focused on ensuring the timely and organized implementation of the TUPAD-Brigada Eskwela program.
Recto also assured Tolentino and DepEd officials of the continued support of the Office of the Executive Secretary for key employment, education, and social protection initiatives of the government.