Be a BIDA Kid: DepEd encourages safe reopening of schools with SM Supermalls

With all the adjustments that we had to make the past couple of years, we know that there is really a big difference in performance of most students and workers with stay at home schooling and work. One of the main items for us to finally have a sense of going back to normal is getting vaccinated. And it really is wonderful news to finally get a safe vaccine for  kids, so that face to face classes will be possible.

Last week, SM Supermalls, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launched their BIDA Kid campaign – a COVID-19 prevention campaign which promotes the safe resumption of face-to-face classes. It happened at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall to remind teachers, students, and parents to continue practicing safety protocols both at home and in school.

The campaign encourages students to remember the 3Bs: Bakuna (vaccination), Bayanihan (cooperation), and BIDA. BIDA stands for:

 

• Bestfriend natin ang mask
• Ingatan at hugasan ang kamay
• Dumistansya muna
• Airflow ay pantilihin (Masks are our bestfriend, keep safe and wash your hands, keep your distance, and maintain airflow).

In attendance were DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, DepEd Undersecretary Wilfredo Cabral, DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla, DepEd Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III, USAID Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn, and SM Supermalls Senior Vice President for Operations Bien Mateo. 

DepEd showed us colorful key visuals and banners were introduced to help students remember the essentials of being a BIDA kid during the event. These will be distributed to different schools, along with a catchy jingle and music video.

SM Supermalls is also encouraging both parents and kids to get jabbed at their pediatric vaccination sites. They are one of the government’s largest private sector partner in their vaccination efforts since 2021. My own siblings got their vaccine here, as well as my niece, son and daughter.

“Our pediatric vaccination sites will remain open to cater to the vaccination needs of our children aged 5 to 11 and 12 to 17. We assure you that we remain committed to providing a safe, convenient, and fun vaccination experience for the kids and their family members and friends,” said Mateo.

For more details on how to support the BIDA Kid campaign and efforts to safely resume face-to-face classes, check out the recent DepEd orders and memoranda here.