Ecowaste Coalition Calls For Waste-Free Brigada Eskwela

4 MAY 2015
EcoWaste Coalition calls for waste-free Brigada Eskwela
Quezon City. With the next school year just around the corner and public schools get ready for the
Brigada Eskwela next week, zero waste advocacy network EcoWaste Coalition appeals to make
the weeklong national schools maintenance event waste-free.
“We call on every participant to this weeklong occasion of bringing to life the
Filipino bayanihan spirit in cleaning-up and beautifying our public schools for the next school
year to make the event green and waste-free,” said Christina Vergara, Zero Waste Program Officer
of EcoWaste Coalition.
“Sad to say though, we have witnessed in the past how major prohibitions of the Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act of 2000 or Republic Act 9003, such as on open burning and on mixing of
wastes, have been violated during the Brigada Eskwela,” she stressed.
“Zero waste, for a fact, fits well this major initiative of the Department of Education (DepEd) and
so we hope that cooperating entities will be aware that the occasion is not only about taking trash
away from schools and putting new paints on structures,” she continued.
“Rather, we see the Brigada Eskwela as an effort to realize the mandates of RA 9003 in the school
communities, segregating at source, composting, reusing, and recyling,” she said firmly.
As guidance to Brigada Eskwela organizers and participants, EcoWaste Coalition itemized the
following tips to make the event waste-free:
1. Separate biodegradable from non-biodegradable discards.

2. Compost biodegradable materials, such as grass cuttings, leaves, and twigs.
3. Reuse whatever discards that can still be reused, such as turn large-enough tin cans or
plastic containers into plant pots.
4. Sell to junkshops recyclable throw-outs, such as papers, cartons, tin cans, bottles, and
metals.
5. Store reusable discards for possible future use, such as for art materials in school projects.
6. Do not burn trash.
7. Do not dump mixed garbage anywhere inside, not even outside, the school premises.
8. Use reusable or recyclable containers for volunteers’ meals and drinks.
9. In painting activities, do not use leaded paints to prevent unnecessary exposure of
participants and incoming students to the hazardous impacts of lead to health.
10. Observe proper painting procedures to prevent the spread of leaded dust in the
surroundings.
11. Use eco- and health-friendly cleaning agents, like vinegar and baking soda, or just plain
soap and water, avoiding hazardous ones like muriatic and Oxalic acid.
12. Handle and store safely all busted mercury-containing fluorescent lamps and other “special
wastes.” Contact manufacturers or concerned government agencies for assistance in
environmentally-sound disposal of such wastes.
13. Observe “no smoking policy” as embodied by DepEd Order 73-2010, R.A. 9211, the
Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 and other related policies. This will prevent not only the
resulting cigarette butt wastes and air pollution, but also exposure to related health hazards.
EcoWaste Coalition defines zero waste and waste-free not to mean only trash-free, but rather to
mean without wastage. The coalition maintained that zero waste encompasses even issues related
to toxics, as these results to wastage of our most important resources: human and environmental
health.
During the Brigada Eskwela next week, the coalition will adopt a school to prove their point well.
DepEd scheduled the actual school maintenance and clean-up activities from 18 to 23 of May,
expecting the “festive coming together of students, teachers, school officials, parents, community
members, local government officials, non-government organizations, church groups and the
private sector”, as the Brigada Eskwela Manual puts it, to physically prepare all public schools
nationwide for the coming school year.
-end-
Reference:
http://www.deped.gov.ph/sites/default/files/order/2015/DO_s2015_09.pdf
http://www.deped.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Brigada%20Eskwela%20Manual.pdf
Posted by EcoWaste Coalitionat Thursday, May 14, 2015
http://www.deped.gov.ph/sites/default/files/order/2015/DO_s2015_09.pdf
http://www.deped.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Brigada%20Eskwela%20Manual.pdf
Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is a government corporate entity attached to the
Department of Agriculture created through Executive Order 1061 on 5 November 1985 (as amended) to
help develop high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all
Filipinos. PhilRice Bicol joins Brigada Eskwela 2019 at Batang Elementary School in Ligao City, Albay. The
station also distributes vegetable seeds and knowledge products on rice and rice-based farming during
the activity. https://www.philrice.gov.ph/brigada-eskwela/ Posted on Jun - 8 – 2019
https://philippines.embassy.gov.au/mnla/medrel170519.html
AUSTRALIA JOINS BRIGADA ESKWELA ACROSS THE PHILIPPINES
The Australian Embassy in the Philippines helped schools across the Philippines prepare for the
opening of classes by joining the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Brigada Eskwela.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely joined parents and other stakeholders
in re-painting teacher tables and student armchairs at Camp Siongco Elementary School in the
town of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on 19 May 2017.
Ambassador Gorely also handed over construction materials for minor classroom repair,
construction manual, and classroom construction repair and maintenance posters to the school.
“We are happy to help schools prepare for the opening of classes in June. The Embassy has
participated in the Brigada Eskwela since 2010. This is part of Australia’s broader support to the
Philippines’ education reform,” Ambassador Gorely said.
“The Philippines and Australia have been longstanding friends and partners. We are pleased to
be supporting Brigada Eskwela in time with the celebration of the first Philippines-Australia
Friendship Day this weekend.” Ambassador Gorely added.
Launched in 2003, Brigada Eskwela promotes the Filipino spirit of ‘bayanihan’ or volunteerism,
bringing together parents and members of the school community and partners from the private
sector.
Australia participated in the national launch of Brigada Eskwela on May 15, 2017 in Cebu City.
Australian Embassy First Secretary Felicity Lee distributed the Ligtas ang Batang Handa (A
Prepared Child is a Safe Child) promotional video and print materials to selected schools.
Produced by ABS-CBN’s Bantay Bata 163 with funding support from the Australian
Government’s Direct Aid Program, Ligtas ang Batang Handa promotes emergency and calamity
awareness, helping children become better prepared for emergencies or calamities.
First Secretary Lee and representatives from the Australia Government-funded Basic Education
Sector Transformation (BEST) Program joined the Partners' Gallery Walk-In Exhibit and
motorcade at the DepEd-XII Ecotech Center in Barangay Lahug, Cebu.
DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones officiated the National Brigada Eskwela opening ceremony at
the Ramon Duterte National High School, also in Cebu.
In Manila, at least 100 volunteers from the Australian Embassy in the Philippines and BEST
Program led a cleanup drive and distributed school supplies and classroom repair materials at
Padre Zamora Elementary School in Pasay City on 17 May 2017. Doña Juana Elementary
School in Quezon City, Ricardo P. Cruz Sr. Elementary School in Taguig, selected schools in
Visayas and Mindanao also received cleaning and repair materials from the BEST Program.
In Mindanao, classroom repair materials amounting to P1.7 million were also distributed by the
Basic Education Assistance in Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM) Program to 52 madaris
schools during the Brigada Eskwela week.
Last year Australia allocated P8.9 million for the refurbishment of 277 public schools and 53
madaris schools in ARMM.
From 2010 to 2015, Australia spent AUD233,000 in support of Brigada Eskwela activities
nationwide, benefitting 150 public schools.
Education remains a top priority of Australia’s development assistance to the Philippines,

cornering at least AUD40.8 million of its AUD82.9 million total development assistance this
year.
Australia’s support for the country’s education reforms included the development of curricula,
construction and repair of classrooms as well as other school facilities, and scholarship grants,
which are geared towards promoting inclusive socio-economic development.

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4 MAY 2015

EcoWaste Coalition calls for waste-free Brigada Eskwela

1. Separate biodegradable from non-biodegradable discards.

AUSTRALIA JOINS BRIGADA ESKWELA ACROSS THE PHILIPPINES

Education remains a top priority of Australia’s development assistance to the Philippines,

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