The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have strengthened their partnership for Brigada Eskuwela 2026 by integrating the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Program.
The initiative will provide temporary employment to around 240,000 workers nationwide while preparing public schools for the opening of classes on June 8.
Under the initiative, DOLE has allocated around P2 billion for the TUPAD implementation to support Brigada Eskuwela and school readiness activities for School Year 2026–2027.
The program supports the nationwide effort to ensure that public schools are clean, safe, organized, and ready to welcome millions of learners.
In line with the shared objective of supporting Filipino families, priority consideration will be given to parents, siblings, guardians, and relatives of learners who qualify under existing TUPAD guidelines and validation processes.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the initiative creates a direct link between school readiness and family welfare.
“Habang tumutulong silang ihanda ang mga silid-aralan para sa pasukan, nagkakaroon din sila ng dagdag na kita na maaaring magamit sa baon, gamit pang-eskwela, at iba pang pangangailangan ng kanilang pamilya. Isa itong programang naghahanda ng paaralan at sabay na sumusuporta sa pag-aaral ng ating mga anak,” Angara said.
DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino emphasized the importance of linking employment opportunities with community development and educational outcomes.
“Ang DOLE ay nakikiisa sa DepEd sa proyektong Brigada Eskuwela. Ang programang TUPAD ay tutulong sa pag-aayos, paglilinis at pagkukumpuni ng mga paaralan para mas maging maayos at ligtas ang ating mga mag-aaral, habang nagbibigay ng pansamantalang trabaho na makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan at sa kanilang mga pamilya,” said Tolentino.
A collaborative effort
The convergence allows eligible TUPAD beneficiaries to participate in school preparation activities such as classroom cleaning, waste management, hauling of furniture and learning materials, vegetation clearing, landscaping, repainting, and other non-technical campus improvement activities.
The program will prioritize schools with significant operational requirements, such as Mega, Extremely Large, Very Large and Large schools, as well as schools located in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), underserved communities, and disaster-affected areas.
Under the approved guidelines, TUPAD beneficiaries may be deployed for up to 10 days during the implementation of Brigada Eskwela and preparatory activities under the Opening Block.
School heads, in coordination with DOLE, will supervise the beneficiaries. The DOLE will also be responsible for the selection, validation, and administration of wage and other labor-related benefits in accordance with existing policies.
DepEd and DOLE underscored that this partnership demonstrates a whole-of-government approach that simultaneously supports school preparedness, community participation, employment generation, and learner welfare.
As schools nationwide gear up for the opening of classes, both agencies reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that every learner enters a school that is ready for learning and fully backed by the community. (PR)
