MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday convened its “convergence meeting” for its annual Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) where it held coordination talks with officials of government agencies as well as private utilities companies to make the opening of school year 2010-2011 smooth and orderly on June 15. Education Secretary Mona Valisno said the OBE aims to make the opening of classes seamless, the streets safe and that basic utilities and services are available.
“Education is everybody’s business. That is why we ask the assistance and support of other agencies to make sure that school opening will run smoothly and orderly,” she stressed.
All necessary measures and possible scenarios that may arise in the opening of classes were discussed during the meeting attended by representatives from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Health (DOH), and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Other government and private agencies which participated in the convergence meeting were the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services and Administration (PAGASA), Manila Electric Company (Meralco), Manila Water, Maynilad, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
“OBE will not only focus on the safety of students but will ensure that students are properly enrolled and able to attend school during the opening of classes,” Valisno stressed.
Moreover, OBE helps create awareness on how the whole community can help in bringing all school-aged children to school.
DepEd has been successful in the last few years in ensuring the smooth opening of classes through OBE. Now on its sixth year, the department guarantees parents and students that this year’s OBE is better than the last.
“Because of the strong partnership among our convergence partners and other education stakeholders, our common goal to make education accessible to all is within reach,” Valisno said.