A photojournalist’s viral post sparks debate over the annual volunteer drive.
Every year, Filipinos are told to celebrate Brigada Eskwela as a shining example of bayanihan. Parents paint classrooms, teachers spend from their own pockets, and volunteers donate time and materials to prepare schools for the opening of classes.
But a viral Facebook post by photojournalist Jimmy Domingo has reignited a difficult question: Is Brigada Eskwela a testament to Filipino community spirit—or evidence that government institutions are failing to do the work they were funded to do?
The debate erupted after Domingo shared a post questioning why communities are repeatedly being asked to shoulder school repairs and maintenance despite the existence of government funds intended for education.
Thousands of netizens joined the discussion, with many arguing that volunteerism has become a convenient way to compensate for chronic problems in public education.
“Minsan, ang pagkukulang at kabulukan ng sistema ay tinatago natin sa likod ng ‘volunteerism’,” wrote Daniella Rose Flores.
“Maganda ang volunteerism, oo. Pero naniniwala akong kailangan din nating alalahanin kung ano talaga ang dapat responsibilidad ng bawat isa.”
Flores argued that teachers are hired to educate students—not to spend their own money fixing classrooms and school facilities.
Another commenter, Kaizen AAdil, pointed to the Special Education Fund (SEF), a fund specifically created to finance educational needs such as school repairs, construction, instructional materials, and facility maintenance.
“This raises a legitimate and important question: Where is the Special Education Fund (SEF), and how is it being allocated and utilized?” the commenter wrote.
For many participants in the discussion, the issue was not Brigada Eskwela itself but the fact that it continues to fill gaps that should have been addressed through proper planning, budgeting, and implementation by government agencies.
“Bayanihan = cost-cutting efforts,” wrote Patricia Monica.
“Brigada Eskwela really said: ‘Congratulations, teachers and parents! You’ve unlocked the side quest of doing the government’s job for free,’” added Goldwin Adi.
Others questioned why schools continue to struggle with basic infrastructure despite the education sector consistently receiving one of the largest allocations in the national budget.
“Yes yes and yes. There is money, stop this narrative. The question is where is it all going?” wrote Andrea P. Hernandez.
Some comments highlighted persistent problems experienced by students and teachers.
“Sa amin nga may bagong room, hanggang 4th floor kaso WALANG TUBIG ang CR sa taas,” wrote Thiang DC Badieles.
Domingo replied that he had encountered similar situations in many schools where only ground-floor facilities had access to water.
Brigada Eskwela, officially known as National Schools Maintenance Week, is a nationwide volunteer initiative led by the Department of Education (DepEd) to prepare public schools for the incoming school year. The 2026 program runs from June 1 to 5 and includes classroom repairs, repainting, campus cleanups, landscaping, and donations of supplies and equipment.
DepEd guidelines emphasize that participation is strictly voluntary and that schools are prohibited from requiring donations or collecting fees from parents as a condition for enrollment.
Yet the viral discussion reveals a growing frustration among Filipinos. Few commenters opposed bayanihan itself. Instead, many argued that the annual volunteer drive has become necessary because of longstanding issues involving funding, maintenance, implementation, and accountability.
For critics, Brigada Eskwela’s success is not only proof of Filipino generosity. It is also a reminder that communities are often stepping in to do what government agencies should have already accomplished through existing budgets and programs.
In that sense, the online debate is no longer about whether Filipinos are willing to help their schools. The real question is why, decades after Brigada Eskwela began, so many believe they still have to.
