TO HELP ease the financial burden of parents during the back-to-school season, the Mandaue City Government has started to distribute free school supplies and physical education (PE) uniforms to students in all public elementary schools across the city.
Councilor Malcolm Sanchez, chairman of the committee on education, said in an interview on Monday, June 9, 2025, the distribution began early to coincide with the start of Brigada Eskwela, as teachers are already on-site and many students are beginning to enroll.
While the actual handover of supplies is still ongoing, especially for those who had completed enrollment, the formal ceremonial turnover, typically attended by city officials and school representatives, will be held after the election ban is lifted, likely toward the end of June.
“This is not yet the official launching. We began the distribution now because Brigada Eskwela has already started,” Sanchez said.
The program is funded by the City’s P80 million Special Education Fund. It is intended to benefit all 39,000 enrolled public elementary pupils in Mandaue City.
This number is based on enrollment data from the end of School Year (SY) 2024–2025, and may still change as enrollment continues.
“We don’t have the final numbers yet. Enrollment is still ongoing,” said Edgar Espina of the Department of Education Mandaue Division’s administrative office.
The City is currently distributing a full set of school essentials, including school bags, notebooks, pencils, writing pads, ballpens, raincoats, PE uniforms and other basic supplies.
Kindergarten students will receive specialized kits tailored to their learning needs.
Students will be given their school supplies once they have completed enrollment, to ensure that resources are distributed fairly.
“This program ensures that parents don’t have to worry or feel stressed about where to get school supplies for their children. It’s a concrete show of support from the City Government, especially in the field of education,” Sanchez said.
At Mandaue City Central School, principal Louwela Guerrero shared how the distribution is being carried out.
“The City Government based the allocation on our total enrollment at the end of the last school year. Students who confirm they will stay enrolled here will be issued claim stubs for their school supplies,” Guerrero said.
She added that students who enroll late may still receive supplies, even if stocks run low.
Guerrero said if all supplies have already been distributed to early enrollees, the school will find ways to accommodate those who have enrolled late.
At the end of SY 2024, the school had 3,700 enrolled students. / CAV