31 May 2026, Quezon City.  Brigada Eskwela volunteers from the EcoWaste Coalition and the MARCEA Waste Workers' Association today got their hands dirty to help provide the students of Pinyahan Elementary School (PES) with a clean, safe learning environment.

In coordination with PES principal Dr. Jocelyn Ladica, the volunteers, who were mostly from families displaced by the devastating fires that burned down their homes along NIA Road last March 6 and April 30, 2026, took part in the effort to get the school ready for the start of the new academic year on June 8.

Amid the sweltering heat, the volunteers donning native "sombrero" wiped the dust off the metal fence and gate, using a moist rag and then repainted them with certified lead-safe paints donated by Asian Coating Philippines, Inc.  They also gave the entrance walls a coat of fresh paint.

Before the clean-up and repainting, volunteers wearing aprons with the messages "Waste-Free" and "Lead Safe" gamely posed for posterity with their paint brushes and cans and cleaning materials, while others held placards that said "lead safe paints for Brigada Eskwela" and "together for a clean, healthy, and safe school."

"Natutuwa po kaming maging bahagi ng Brigada Eskwela sa PES na minamahal na paaralan ng marami sa aming mga anak," said Riza Santoyo, Vice President of MARCEA.  "Sa gitna ng matinding pagsubok na aming kinaharap dulot ng pagkasunog ng aming mga bahay ay naririto kami upang masayang tumulong sa paghahanda para sa maaliwalas na pagbabalik-eskwela."

"The annual Brigada Eskwela offers a unique opportunity for various sectors to come together, inspired by the bayanihan spirit, to foster a child-friendly and healthy school environment," said Ochie Tolentino, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.  "We encourage the participants to prevent and reduce environmental pollutants during the Brigada Eskwela to keep everyone healthy and safe."

To minimize, if not avoid,  environmental contaminants, the EcoWaste Coalition encouraged Brigada Eskwela to observe the necessary pollution prevention and reduction measures.

To prevent the use and disposal of problematic materials:  Avoid the use of plastic tarpaulins, which may contain cadmium and/or lead, for school announcements. Maximize social media, or use coconut cloth or taffeta banners instead.  Encourage participants to bring food and water in reusable containers, not in single-use plastics.

To conserve resources:  Enforce the basic requirements of ecological solid waste management - segregate, not mix discards at source, compost yard trimmings and other organics, recycle the recyclables. Don't dump or burn Brigada Eskwela waste.

To safely manage special waste: Don't throw electronic waste or e-waste, including spent fluorescent lamps and batteries, in regular trash to avoid environmental and fire hazards.

To keep school cleaning safe:  Choose safer cleaning supplies instead of harsh chemicals like oxalic or muriatic acid. Check product labels for warning symbols and follow the safety directions carefully.  Never combine bleach with ammonia or acids to avoid hazardous fumes.

To protect children from tobacco harm: Enforce the ban on smoking and vaping in school premises in line with DepEd Order No. 48, series of 2016, DepEd Memorandum No. 111, series of 2019, and other related issuances. 

To avoid lead paint and dust: Ensure mandatory use of lead-safe paints in schools, as required by DepEd Order No. 4, series of 2017. Avoid dry sanding, dry scraping, and other improper methods for removing lead-based paint. Wipe down all surfaces, including floors, windows, frames, sills, and furniture, with a damp mop or cloth to remove dust.

To avoid mercury spills: Handle spent mercury-containing fluorescent lamps with care to prevent breakage; do not burn or mix them with ordinary trash; properly store and dispose of them as hazardous waste; replace them with mercury-free, more energy-efficient LED lights bearing ICC stickers or PS marks.

The theme for this year's Brigada Eskwela, which will run from June 1 to 5, is "Bayanihan sa Paaralan: Nagkakaisa para sa Kaayusan at Kaalaman."

Note:"Bayanihan sa Paaralan: Nagkakaisa para sa Kaayusan at Kaalaman" translates to "Bayanihan in Schools: Coming Together, United for Order and Knowledge.

Bayanihan is a deep-seated Filipino cultural value of communal unity, cooperation, and selfless volunteerism. Coming from bayan (meaning nation, town, or community) and bayani (meaning hero), it's the Filipino spirit of helping others without expecting anything in return and putting the community's needs above oneself.

Source: Pressenza