Over 11,000 classrooms damaged by habagat, cyclones — DepEd

MANILA, Philippines — Rains and floods from the southwest monsoon or ‘habagat,’ and recent tropical cyclones have affected over 11,000 classrooms nationwide, the Department of Education said on Wednesday.

Nationwide, the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones damaged 2,243 schools and 11,167 classrooms. 

The DepEd said it requires an estimated P7.783 billion in funds, including P65.036 million for immediate cleanup and clearing operations.

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READ: Why Central Luzon needs more than piecemeal flood projects

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Funds include P319.97 million for minor repairs in 1,487 schools and P1.194 billion for major repairs in 669 schools.

Additionally, the DepEd needs P5.62 billion to reconstruct 490 heavily damaged school sites.

Of these, 6,530 classrooms sustained minor damage, 2,389 suffered major damage, and 2,248 were totally damaged.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inspected damaged areas in Tarlac, Zambales, and Pampanga on Wednesday.“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 a statement.

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Data from DepEd’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service showed that Central Luzon sustained the heaviest damage from the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and recent tropical cyclones.

At least 622 schools and 4,025 classrooms were affected in Central Luzon.

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The damage included 946 classrooms totally destroyed, 806 with major damage, and 2,274 with minor damage.

DepEd estimated that Central Luzon 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.

A total of 1,748 classrooms in 442 schools nationwide are currently serving as temporary shelters for 13,723 displaced families.

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As of Sept. 1, 367 public schools nationwide had suspended face-to-face classes due to the effects of the monsoon and tropical cyclones. INQ /mr