The Brigada Eskwela in Antique is expected to address the much-needed books, tables and chairs of schools in Antique province, particularly those considered last mile schools or located in far-flung areas.

Dr. Roselyn Abuela, Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Antique coordinator for the Brigada Eskwela, a nationwide school maintenance program, on Wednesday said the province will launch its annual school maintenance activity on Aug. 11 following the regional kick-off ceremony in Iloilo City on Aug. 8.

“With the resumption of the full face-to-face classes in the province this coming Aug. 29, we also need to raise the support from our stakeholders to the lacking facilities and furniture needed by both our teachers and learners, especially in the last mile schools,” Abuela said in an interview.

Around 175 public schools are in the remote areas of Antique.

She said last mile schools have multi-grade teachers and multi-grade classrooms due to the lack of personnel and facilities.

Since they are in far-flung areas, they also have meager resources.

“We hope that this school year, the Legacy Building of the ABS-CBN Foundation could already be finished and turned over to Barbaza National High School,” she said.

The construction of the PHP20-million eight-classroom legacy building in Barbaza started in November last year.

Aside from the private sector, the department is also banking on the support of cooperatives in the province.

Some of the internet connections committed by the office of Antique Congressman Antonio Agapito Legarda to 150 schools in the province this year are already delivered.

The Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (IIEE) Antique Chapter also volunteered to inspect schools to help reduce their electricity usage.

In a separate interview, IIEE Antique Chapter president Engineer Edwin Eraga said they would start their inspection at the Sibalom National High School (SNHS) in the town proper.

“We will be inspecting the SNHS electrical connections in the next few days so we would know what needs to be done,” he said.

Starting this school year, the chapter intends to provide free services and needed materials to at least two schools in the province annually.

The Brigada Eskwela in public schools will be on August 14-19, 2023. (PNA)