Over 300 classrooms were damaged by Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Fengshen) that struck several parts of Luzon over the weekend.
Based on a situation report, DepEd said a total of 375 classrooms were damaged by Ramil in various parts of Luzon.
Of the total, 201 suffered minor damage, 56 had major damage, while 118 were totally damaged.
DepEd said 16 water, sanitation, and hygiene or WASH facilities were also damaged by Ramil.
Meanwhile, 10,538 schools in 113 school divisions are still currently at risk of flooding, according to DepEd.
Another 12,602 or 103 school divisions, on the other hand, are at risk of landslides.
Due to this, DepEd said it is already coordinating with local government units and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMCs) to ensure preparedness for emergency responses.
The DepEd-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service also recommended the following:
Activate School Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (SDRRM) teams and contingency plans to address potential flooding and landslides, as needed.
Secure all learning materials and equipment.
Preposition emergency supplies and resources.
Report the situation regarding Tropical Storm RAMIL in schools through the Incident Management Reporting System (IMRS).
‘DepEd remains dedicated to safeguarding the well-being of all learners and personnel,’ said DepEd. /mr