EDUCATION Secretary Sonny Angara led the nationwide launch of the 2026 Brigada Eskwela from Agusan del Norte to prepare public school classrooms for the coming school year.
Schools will open on June 8.
“The Brigada Eskwela is proof of the strength of our cooperation for the future of our youth. With the guidance and support of President (Ferdinand) Bongbong Marcos (Jr.), we united TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers) and Brigada to not only prepare schools, but also bring livelihood to families in need,” Angara said in a statement.
The Department of Education (DepEd) said 240,000 Tupad workers nationwide would be temporarily employed to help prepare schools for the opening of classes.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) allocated about P2 billion for the implementation of Tupad, the DepEd said.
“The convergence allows eligible TUPAD beneficiaries to participate in school preparation activities such as classroom cleaning, waste management, hauling of furniture and learning materials, vegetation clearing, landscaping, repainting, and other non-technical campus improvement activities,” the DepEd said.
Mega, extremely large, very large, and large schools as well as those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), underserved communities, and disaster-affected areas will be prioritized.
Tupad beneficiaries may be deployed for up to 10 days during the implementation of Brigada Eskwela and preparatory activities.
The DepEd said Angara helped in the school preparations by painting a blackboard and a table in a home economics room.
