DEPED sets up ‘Balik-Eskwela’ assistance center
IN preparation for the official opening of school rear 2021-2021 on September 13,the Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday set up the Oplan Balik Eskwela 2021 Public Assistance Command Center (OBE-PACC) nationwide to cater to queries and concerns.
Education Secretary Briones reminded parents and guardians of students to enroll their children before September 13 to avoid last-minute inconveniences.
As of September 6, some 17,967,733 learners are enrolled for this school year.
To run until September 17, the OBE-PACC at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, Central Office will accommodate queries of parents, learners, and other stakeholders received through hotlines, emails, SMS, and social media relevant to enrollment and the opening of classes.
“We want to make sure that we will be able to address all enrollment-related issues and queries of the stakeholders for us to assist them and create policies if deemed necessary, ” Briones said.
Walk-ins will not be allowed as part of the health protocols enforced to ensure the protection of the health and safety of involved personnel.
“To protect the health of the persons involved, the set-up is strictly limited to concerned personnel only. We will practice stringent health and safety protocols throughout the OBE campaign without sacrificing our service to the public,” said Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan.
Regional and division command centers are also set up nationwide to assist in disseminating and clarifying DepEd policies, programs, projects, and processes for SY 2021-2022.
The OBE-PACC will coordinate with concerned DepEd offices on complex concerns requiring the specific offices’ appropriate action.
DepEd Central Office PACC may be contacted through (02) 8636-1663, (02) 8633-1942, (02) 8638-7529, (02) 8638-7530, (02) 8638-7531, (02) 8635-9817, (02) 8634-0222, and (02) 8638-8641; and cellphone hotline numbers at 0919 456 0027 (Smart), and 0995 921 8461 (Globe). For more information regarding the enrollment and opening of classes, the general public may also visit https://www.deped.gov.ph/obe/.
The 2021 OBE is spearheaded by Undersecretaries Malaluan and Escobedo , with Public Affairs Service (PAS) director June Arvin Gudoy as vice-chair of the campaign.Arlene Rivera
