INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. directed all agencies under his department to assist in the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela.

Brigada Eskwela seeks to prepare public schools for the start of classes, with volunteers cleaning, repainting and making required repairs.

Classes in public schools are set to begin on August 22.

“I am asking the DILG family to help the Department of Education to prepare the schools so that the children and the teachers will be safe when they return to school,” Abalos said.

The DILG oversees the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and all local government organizations.

“Magtulungan tayo, tulungan natin ang DepEd (let us help each other, let us help DepEd). These are among the immediate things that we need to do right now… Our energy should be focused on recovery,” he said.