QUEZON CITY, August 3, 2019 – Recognizing the self-sacrifice and distinctive acts of heroism and gallantry of military heroes, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones joined Cabinet secretaries in the ceremonial signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9049, otherwise known as “An Act Granting Monthly Gratuity and Privileges to an Awardee of the Medal of Valor” at Camp Aguinaldo on July 31.
The medal of valor is the highest military award given to an officer for his or her gallantry and distinctive acts of heroism. As stated in the policy, the state shall give lifetime monthly gratuity of P75,000.00, along with other social services and financial rewards to the MOV awardees and their beneficiaries.
“Soldiers, policemen, uniformed personnel of our country have always been looked up to, have always been loved and respected. And we in the Department of Education recognize this as we teach our children respect, citizenship, and appreciation for those who protect us,” Briones shared.
The Education chief further underscored the importance of uniformed personnel: “I always tell my teachers that learning is not the business of teachers alone. We motivate, we facilitate, we teach our learners. The nurses and the doctors keep our learners healthy. The engineers build our schools. Transportation builds roads, airports so we can move around. But the soldiers die. It’s their lives that they offer to us so that you can grow up and perhaps become a soldier yourself or become a policeman yourself.”
“So, this is your legacy—legacy of being a role model for the future citizens of this country and we commit to maintain this image which we inculcate among our learners,” Briones enthused.
In conclusion, Briones reiterated the support that the education sector can commit and extend to the MOV awardees and their beneficiaries in addition to free tuition.
“We will urge all our schools, our teachers to see to it that the beneficiaries of the Medal of Valor awards will be endorsed to the various partners that we have,” Briones cited, referring to the Department’s partner organizations that provide shoes, uniforms, and even health and hygiene supplies for children.
The ceremonial signing was graced by the 13 principal signatories headed by the Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana; DepEd Secretary Briones; Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu; Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año; Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen Benjamin Madrigal Jr.; Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Prospero De Vera Jr.; Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson Alicia Dela Rosa-Bala; National Housing Authority (NHA) represented by Susan Nonato; Department of Health (DOH) Secretary represented by Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan; Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Department of Finance officials; and the MOV awardees.
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PHOTO CAPTION:
PHOTO 1-5: Recognizing the self-sacrifice and distinctive acts of heroism and gallantry of military heroes, DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones joined Cabinet secretaries in the ceremonial signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9049, otherwise known as “An Act Granting Monthly Gratuity and Privileges to an Awardee of the Medal of Valor” at Camp Aguinaldo on July 31.
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Ed launches 2019 Oplan Balik Eskwela, converges education partners to ensure smooth school opening
PASIG CITY, May 27, 2019 – To ensure the smooth opening of classes for School Year 2019-2020, the Department of Education (DepEd) converged its partner government agencies as it formally launched today the national Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE).
“Ang konsepto natin dito ay ang edukasyon ay hindi lamang responsibilidad ng Department of Education. Lahat ng ating government agencies, including the private sector, ay nagtutulungan para sa paghahanda sa pagbabalik-eskwela ng ating mga bata,” Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones shared during the press conference at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, DepEd Central Office.
Inter-Agency Task Force
This year’s OBE Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) consists of the Department of Energy (DOE); Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); Department of Health (DOH); Department of National Defense (DND); Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Department of Transportation (DOTr); Manila Electric Company (MERALCO); Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS); Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA); Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA); and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
As co-chairpersons of the 2019 OBE, Undersecretary for Planning, Human Resource and Organizational Development, and Field Operations Jesus Mateo, and Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Service and Alternative Learning System Program and Task Force G. H. Ambat expressed their gratitude to the representatives of the IATF who presented their respective preparations for the school opening.
PNP’s Ligtas Balik Eskwela shall deploy approximately 6,000 personnel for the National Capital Region (NCR) alone, and 150,000 personnel nationwide to prevent and suppress the occurrence of criminal and terroristic incidents targeting the general public including students, teachers, and parents.
DTI, meanwhile, is conducting a series of OBE Diskwento Caravan through its Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau. It also published the Gabay sa Presyo ng School Supplies as it intensifies its weekly price monitoring activities from May to June.
PAGASA delivered rainy day safety reminders and discussed the protocols on warning services, while DPWH shared the maintenance activities of its district engineering offices inside and within the vicinities of the schools including the repainting of pedestrian markings and de-clogging of drainages.
Maynilad Water Services, Inc. assured the public that there will be no pipe-laying/repair activities near schools on school opening and that ongoing excavations near schools shall be safe/passable for motorists and pedestrians. They also presented their Lingkod Eskwela Program which gives public school students access to potable water through the drink-wash facilities they installed.
The MMDA’s Balik Eskwela Program this year shall focus on increasing awareness on smoke-free campuses and protecting the youth from the dangers of smoking, while the DILG directed its local chief executives to support the OBE activities.
MERALCO shared their various activities including the assessment of schools’ electrical connections and trimming of tree branches along electrical facilities. DOE, meanwhile, discussed the power situation/outlook in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, as well as its coordination efforts with power generation companies and other relevant institutions.
Finally, DSWD assured the public on the on-time payout of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) cash grants.
Public Assistance Command Center
The Public Assistance Command Center (PACC), stationed at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan in DepEd CO, shall be operational from May 27 to June 7 to address the problems, queries, and other concerns commonly encountered by public at the start of the school year, and to ensure that all learners are properly enrolled and able to attend school on the first day of classes on June 3.
The PACC shall also serve as the information and complaints processing and routing zone for the duration of the OBE. Regional and schools division offices are also enjoined to set up a command center to receive and respond to concerns directly from the ground.
The following channels shall be open to the public through the PACC: hotlines (636-1663; 635-9817; 638-7530; 633-1942; 638-8641; 638-7529; and 634-0222 (fax)); email (action@deped.gov.ph); text messaging (09194560027); social media (Department of Education–Philippines on Facebook and DepEd_PH on Twitter); walk-in assistance; and legal assistance, if applicable.
This effort is pursuant to the DepEd Memorandum No. 29, s. 2019 entitled “2019 Oplan Balik Eskwela.”
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PHOTO CAPTION:
PHOTO 1: The Department of Education formally launched today the national Oplan Balik Eskwela. The Public Assistance Command Center stationed at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, DepEd Central Office, shall be operational from May 27 to June 7 to address the problems, queries, and other concerns commonly encountered by public at the start of the school year.
PHOTO 2: DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones led the press conference as part of the launch of the 2019 Oplan Balik Eskwela.
PHOTO 3: DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, Undersecretaries Annalyn Sevilla and Jesus Mateo, and Assistant Secretary G. H. Ambat joined the officials and representatives of the Oplan Balik Eskwela Inter-Agency Task Force including DOE, DILG, DPWH, DSWD, DTI, DOTr, MERALCO, Maynilad, MMDA, PAGASA, and PNP.–
DepEd converges NGAs, GOCCs to strengthen partnerships for Brigada Eskwela
PASIG CITY, March 19, 2019 – The Department of Education (DepEd), through the External Partnerships Service (EPS), spearheaded a convergence meeting with national government agencies (NGAs) and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to strengthen partnerships for Brigada Eskwela at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan on March 13.
Slated on May 20 to 25 with the theme, “Matatag na Bayan para sa Maunlad na Paaralan,” Brigada Eskwela aims to bring together all education stakeholders to participate and contribute their time, effort, and resources to prepare public schools for the opening of classes.
“We’re now trying to equip all of our school officials from the various local levels of governance—from the school, district, schools division, region, and up to the central office—about partnership. We would like to change their mindset. Ito ay mga mahahalagang tao, indibidwal, korporasyon, ahensiya o opisina, sangay ng gobyerno na makatutulong sa atin para mangyari ‘yung misyon natin bilang Kagawaran ng Edukasyon,” Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships, and Project Management Service Tonisito M.C. Umali, Esq. shared.
Umali further emphasized everyone’s role in the provision of quality education for all: “Sa aming paglalakbay para protektahan at isulong ang karapatan ng bawat Filipino sa isang de-kalidad na edukasyon, dapat ang bawat pamilya, komunidad, ang lahat ng stakeholders ay kasama. Ang pagtuturo at paghubog sa ating mga anak ay isang kolektibong responsibilidad nating lahat.”
DepEd also called on volunteer entities to donate in kind: emergency kits for schools, teachers, and first aid, as well as health and hygiene kits and bags for learners.
During Brigada week, partners are enjoined to conduct learning sessions on public safety and fire or earthquake drill, sanitation and proper hygiene, health and wellness, food storage and handling, parenting, bullying awareness and prevention, anti-illegal drug campaign, financial literacy and personal financial management, and reading and writing sessions.
Partners are likewise encouraged to support DepEd’s programs on medical and dental check up, good grooming and haircut, Gulayan sa Paaralan, livelihood opportunities for learners and parents-teachers association (PTA), and provision of school supplies and uniforms, and learning and teaching materials.
NGA and GOCC representatives also shared their Brigada-related programs and projects, as well as their experiences. EPS noted all their existing initiatives and pledged to harmonize efforts and institutionalize implementation. It also discussed the framework for possible partnerships.
EPS also reported that last year’s Brigada generated a grand total of P6,447,685,413.61 worth of resources and volunteer man hours, and mobilized a total 22,647,754 volunteers.
In closing, Umali expressed gratitude for the attendance of NGAs and GOCCs, and ensured the realization of their commitments: “Sa lahat ng dumalo sa pagtitipon na ito, nagpapasalamat po kami. Makaaasa po kayo na lahat ng pinag-usapan natin dito ay mangyayari.”
The government agencies represented in the meeting were the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Civil Service Commission (CSC), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
For GOCCs, the participants include the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Light Rail Transit Administration (LRTA), National Power Corporation (NPC), Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Philippine Postal Corporation (PhlPost) Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), and the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP).
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PHOTO CAPTION:
PHOTO 1-2: The Department of Education (DepEd), through the External Partnerships Service (EPS), spearheaded a convergence meeting with national government agencies (NGAs) and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to strengthen partnerships for Brigada Eskwela at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan on March 13.–
