Damage from floods and the combined effects of the southwest monsoon, or ‘habagat,’ and recent tropical cyclones have affected over 11,000 classrooms nationwide, with the Department of Education (DepEd) saying it would need an estimated P7.783 billion for rehabilitation efforts.
The amount includes P65.036 million for immediate cleanup and clearing operations in 2,243 affected schools and P319.97 million for minor repairs in 1,487 schools.
On the other hand, P1.194 billion would be used to carry out major repairs in 669 schools, while P5.62 billion would go to the reconstruction of 490 heavily damaged school sites.
Overall, the combined effects of the weather disturbances have damaged 2,243 schools and 11,167 classrooms nationwide.
Of the affected classrooms, 6,530 classrooms sustained minor damage while 2,389 suffered major damage and 2,248 others were destroyed.
During an inspection of affected areas in Tarlac, Zambales and Pampanga on Wednesday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara briefed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on emergency measures to ensure that classes in public schools would not be disrupted.
Most affected region
According to the latest data from the DepEd’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service, Central Luzon sustained the heaviest damage, with at least 622 schools and 4,025 classrooms affected.
The DepEd estimated that the region would require P2.9 billion for response and recovery efforts. This includes P19.49 million for cleanup, P111.43 million for minor repairs, P402.5 million for major repairs and P2.37 billion for reconstruction.
‘We are immediately allocating the necessary assistance for the repair of schools while ensuring the safety and well-being of our teachers and students,’ Angara said.
In Tarlac City, Tarlac, the collapse of the Aquino and Agana bridges left isolated 23 of the 99 public schools under the Schools Division Office. As a result, classes were shifted to alternative delivery modes from Sept. 1 to Sept. 5.
A total of 786 damaged classrooms across 96 schools were reported, with response and recovery requirements estimated at P496.24 million.
In Pampanga, Marcos and Angara inspected the damaged Sto. Cristo Dam in Lubao town. The province sustained the most extensive damage in Central Luzon, with 250 affected schools and 1,752 damaged classrooms that would require an estimated P1.36 billion for recovery and response efforts.
Pampanga also reported damage to 5,369 learning materials, 66 sets of information technology equipment and 6,351 learner chairs.
In Zambales, the president and Angara visited Sta. Fe National High School in San Marcelino, where floodwaters and sand inundated school grounds. Six classrooms were destroyed while another six sustained minor damage.
Latest reports showed that floods damaged 21 schools and 82 classrooms across the province.
So far, a total of 1,748 classrooms in 442 schools nationwide are currently being used as temporary shelters for 13,723 displaced families.
As of Sept. 1, 367 public schools nationwide had suspended face-to-face classes due to the effects of the monsoon and tropical cyclones.
The DepEd, meanwhile, directed school administrators to use the new hazard assessment tool to prevent class disruptions caused by natural disasters.
‘We are calling all school leaders, teachers and (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management) coordinators to use LIGTAS+ as part of our regular disaster preparedness,’ Angara said in a statement.
Launched on Aug. 26, Project Ligtas+, which stands for Learning Institution Geohazard Tracking and Assessment for Safety, is a decision-support platform that converts raw weather and geological data into school-level safety alerts