Senate President Win Gatchalian is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGUS) to ensure the timely repair and replacement of monsoon-damaged classrooms, a move that he says is crucial to the safe resumption of classes in affected areas.
According to the DepEd, the combined effects of two tropical cyclones and the enhanced southwest monsoon damaged 6,681 classrooms as of August 14.
‘Tuwing bumabangon tayo mula sa mga kalamidad, kailangang agarang kumpunihin o palitan ang mga nasirang silid-aralan upang ‘wag malagay sa panganib ang mga mag-aaral dahil lamang sa mga pasilidad na hindi agad naaayos [Each time we survive a calamity, we need to immediately repair or replac e damaged classrooms so that learners are not put in danger from unattended facilities],’ said Gatchalian.
He emphasized that if these classrooms are not repaired or replaced, the shortage of facilities for basic education will get worse. As of July last year, DepEd data showed that the classroom backlog stood at 147,000.
The 2026 national budget’s P67.9 billion allocation for basic education facilities covers the replacement of school buildings. The DepEd recently announced that it would allocate P34.355 million for cleanup and clearing operations in 1,195 affected schools, while P201.586 million is allotted for minor repairs in 4,114 classrooms.