To guarantee a smooth opening of classes for school year (SY) 2018-2019 on June 4, the Department of Education (DepEd) convened various agencies, institutions, and stakeholders to form the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) 2018.
Education chief Leonor Magtolis Briones expressed her gratitude to the members of OBE-IATF for their unwavering support not only during the start of classes but also for the rest of the school year: “We would like to thank our partner agencies in the government because this is not just the undertaking of the Department, this is the undertaking of the entire community of Filipinos who is interested in, and advocates quality education.”
The Secretary further expressed confidence in the preparedness of the Department for SY 2018-2019: “I would like to assure everyone that we are all ready. We have been spending the first months of the year making assessments and preparing for this school year.”
Briones is joined by OBE co-chairs, Undersecretary Jesus Mateo and Assistant Secretary G.H. Ambat, in welcoming the education partners.
Electrical safety in schools
Among the efforts of the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) for this year's OBE are the assessment of school's electrical facilities to ensure compliance with electrical wiring safety standard, trimming of tree branches along electrical facilities within the school vicinity, and the distribution of "Safe ang School Ko" assessment forms to serve as basis in implementing proper corrections of school electrical conditions.
To date, MERALCO has assessed 2,628 schools in Meralco franchise areas using a standardized assessment checklist.
Ligtas Balik Eskwela and Oplan Bisita Eskwela
More than 28,000 Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel will be deployed to assure the safety and security of students, teachers, parents, and school personnel nationwide especially during the resumption of classes.
The PNP’s Oplan Bisita Eskwela is designed to establish strong coordination with the academe, students, youth sector, and communities to initiate anti-bullying and anti-illegal drug campaigns, among others.
PNP also disclosed that currently, there are no reported terror threats.
Oplan Balik Eskwela Diskwento Caravan
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) kicked off the Oplan Balik Eskwela Diskwento Caravan on May 21 in Makati City. The activity, in partnership with manufacturers and retailers, gives consumers access to basic goods, school supplies, and prime commodities at discounted prices.
DTI is also intensifying its weekly price monitoring activities of school supplies, such as noteboooks, pad papers, pencils, ballpens, crayons, eraser, sharpener, and rulers, during the months of May and June.
DTI warned that under the Price Act, price manipulation and profiteering have a corresponding administrative fine of not less than P5,000 up to P2 million, as well as imprisonment.
Learners’ well-being and equitable access to health care
To ensure that learners stay healthy and the school environment conducive to learning, the Department of Health (DOH) aims to contribute to the reduction of child morbidity and mortality towards the attainment of global health well-being, gender equality, and clean water and sanitation.
In addition, the Health Department aims to provide affordable health, nutrition and environment care to all Filipino children, especially the disadvantaged group.
DOH also assured the public that they regularly monitor Dengvaxia cases, primarily through their 24/7 hotline and their information, education, and communication materials.
Rainy season reminders
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that the expected weather during the last week of May and first week of June will be partly cloudy in the morning, with chances of rainshowers and thunderstorms between afternoon and evening.
PAGASA reminded the public to be aware of flood-prone areas en route to school for flashfloods occurrence due to thunderstorms, and to watch out for lightning strike.
Further, the weather station also iterated that temperature in the country during the months of April and May are relatively high and the opening of classes cannot be the same with countries which start classes in September because their summer months are July and August.
Assistance to individuals in crisis situations
In conflict situations, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is giving aid to eligible beneficiaries to help alleviate the cost of school expenses, such as tuition and other fees, school supplies, transportation allowance and other school-related expenses.
In 2017, the education assistance was provided to 201,861 beneficiaries nationwide, which amounted to P458.6 million.
Adequate power supply in schools
The Department of Energy (DOE) lauded DepEd for its education programs and affirms its support to ensure quality, accessible, relevant, and liberating basic education by making sure that there will be sufficient power distribution in the country.
Anti-Truancy Ordinance and other efforts by local government units
Every year, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) encourages officials of local government units (LGUs) to enact ordinances such as Anti-Truancy Ordinance to strictly monitor the entry of uniformed students in mall, internet cafes, and other recreation centers, especially during school hours.
DILG also urged all local chief executives to support the OBE campaign by convening the local school boards, together with the schools division superintendents, to be able to address issues in time for the start of classes and discuss the utilization of available resources under the Special Education Fund.
It also commended teachers who served during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, and called on the candidates of the recent poll to tidy up and remove campaign paraphernalia in schools used as precincts.
Transport and traffic management in Metro Manila
Back to school season entails considerable traffic congestion as a large number of students in the National Capital Region is expected to troop back to school. To address this, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will deploy more than 2,980 constables.
Moreover, support groups, such as the traffic engineering center, sidewalk clearing operations group, anti-jaywalking and anti-smoking enforcement group, will perform their specific tasks to guarantee the peace and order within Metro Manila. # Source – www.deped.gov.ph
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