As the “Brigada Eskwela” or operation school cleanup started Tuesday, the Department of Education in Davao Region (DepEd-11) appealed to the candidates and civic groups to help them clean their schools of election materials.
DepEd-11 spokesperson Jeneilito S. Atillo said they have already sent requests to local candidates on the matter but have not received feedback yet.
“We started (the cleanup) today and we have to ready the school before May 14,” he said in an interview Tuesday.
Atilo said they also asked several organizations to help them clean the schools.
Last month, DepEd announced that classes will be suspended in all public schools nationwide from May 2 to 13.
In adherence to DepEd Order No. 29, classes at all levels were temporarily halted for two weeks to give way for the teachers’ electoral functions for the May 9 national and local polls.
On May 8, DepEd-11 also issued a memorandum for the immediate clean-up drive following the election.
“DepEd schools have always been designated as venues during local and national elections. As observed in the previous elections, sample ballots, posters, election paraphernalia, plastics and wastes from voters, candidates’ watchers, and monitor/volunteers were found scattered inside and outside the school premises,” the memorandum said.
With the predicament, DepEd-11 has asked the help of barangay officials, stakeholders, candidates, and other volunteers to help clean the polling precincts and their surroundings. (PNA)
