Push Admin

ACT tells DepEd: Don't use 'Bayanihan' concept to avoid providing school needs

Article (news)

Joyce Balancio, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Students raise their hands during recitation in their first face-to-face classes at the Nagpayong Elementary School in Pasig City on November 2, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/08/08/20221102-face-to-face-classes-pasig-jc-6272.jpg"/><figcaption>Students raise their hands during recitation in their first face-to-face classes at the Nagpayong Elementary School in Pasig City on November 2, 2022. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — A teachers’ group on Tuesday urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to not use the &quot;Bayanihan&quot; concept as an excuse to avoid providing the needs of the schools for the opening of classes on August 29.</p><p>This, following the appeal of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte during the National Brigada Eskwela kick off on Monday for the “bayanihan spirit of every Filipino” to help the schools.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/03/23/classes-for-sy-2023-2024-to-begin-aug-29-deped">Classes for SY 2023-2024 to begin on August 29: DepEd</a></li></ul><p>The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said they are not against seeking sponsors and partners, but insisted that it is DepEd that has the responsibility to provide for needs of the schools.</p><p>“Ang isa sa panawagan natin na tingin ko ay naging tagumpay naman ay hindi na maging contest ang Brigada Eskwela, kasi sa matagal na panahon naging contest &#x27;yan. Talagang pinanghihingi ng mga teachers ang pangangailangan sa eskwela,” ACT-NCR Union President Ruby Bernardo told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>“Hindi naman tayo against sa Bayanihan na concept nito, pero mas lalo’t higit sana hindi maging panakip butas ito sa responsibilidad ng gobyerno para sa pangangailangan ng mga eskwelahan lalo na ang ating public schools,” she added.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/07/23/duterte-seeks-p150m-confidential-funds-under-depeds-proposed-2024-budget">Duterte defends P150M confidential funds under DepEd&#x27;s proposed 2024 budget</a></li></ul><p>During the National Brigada Eskwela, teachers feel the pressure to look for sponsors who will pledge their support, Bernardo said.</p><p>If they fail to find some, the teachers themselves sometimes shoulder the cost of the schools’ needs, she added.</p><p>“Iyong pakiramdam ng teacher na pabigat &#x27;yun sa kanya, kasi paano kapag wala kang kaibigan na may kakayahan o wala kang network. Syempre napaka-unfair sa side niya kasi kulang na nga po &#x27;yung sahod kaya napipilitan kami na humugot sa sarili naming bulsa dahil sa pressure na &#x27;yun,” Bernardo added.</p><p>“Wala naman kasi choice kasi wala namang inilaan na budget para doon sa pagkukumpuni ng aming classrooms. Napakaliit ng MOOE (maintenance and other operating expenses) para ilaan &#x27;yan doon sa repairs namin,” she also said.</p><p>“Kaya ang panawagan namin sa DepEd ay talagang kailangan ng budget para sa dagdag na classrooms, dagdag na teachers, teaching personnel,” she said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/06/23/dswd-to-pay-college-students-to-tutor-grade-1-pupils">DSWD says to pay college students to tutor Grade 1 pupils</a></li></ul><p>In an earlier separate interview with Teleradyo Serbisyo, DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas clarified that the department is not allowing teachers to engage in direct solicitations from potential partners.</p><p>“We are prohibiting the teachers, the school-based personnel from soliciting, or doing solicitations for the Brigada Eskwela because we are institutionalizing this in the schools divisions offices, regional offices and the central office para hindi maging trabaho ng teachers na mag-solicit ng mga gamit para lang mapaganda o ma-implement ang Brigada Eskwela,” Asec Bringas said.</p><p>Processing of interested partners or sponsors should be coursed through the “Adopt-a-School Program” so that DepEd will be able to monitor the actual donations that will be given to the schools, Bringas explained.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/08/04/23/group-urges-deped-to-hasten-repair-of-typhoon-hit-schools">Group urges DepEd to hasten repair of typhoon-hit schools</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2751810" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

ACT urged the DepEd to not use the 'Bayanihan' concept as an excuse to avoid providing the needs of the schools for the opening of classes on Aug. 29.

ACT tells DepEd: Don't use 'Bayanihan' concept to avoid providing school needs

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

ACT tells DepEd: Don't use 'Bayanihan' concept to avoid providing school needs

Joyce Balancio,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 08, 2023 04:01 PM PHT

Read More:

ACT

DepEd

Sara Duterte

teachers

schools

Brigada Eskwela

funding

Department of Education

education

Alliance of Concerned Teachers

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.