Typhoons did P1B damage to schools

DAMAGE to school buildings caused by multiple typhoons has reached about P1 billion in 10 regions, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Wednesday.

In a radio interview, Education Undersecretary for Disaster Risk Reduction Service Revsee Escobedo said 110 out of 280 schools division offices were affected by typhoons Nica, Ofel and Pepito, with an initial count of 323 classrooms destroyed and 507 needing major repairs.

Escobedo also said 209 schools were also being used as evacuation centers due to Pepito.

This handout taken on November 17, 2024 and released on November 18 courtesy of Joshua Villegas shows an aerial view of damaged houses in Bacak village, Bagamanoc town, Catanduanes province, after Super Typhoon Man-yi hit the province. Filipinos cleared fallen trees and repaired damaged houses on November 18 after the sixth major storm to batter the Philippines in a month smashed flimsy buildings, knocked out power and claimed at least one life. (Photo by Handout / Courtesy of Joshua Villegas / AFP)

The count does not include the damage caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, where 16 regions were affected, equivalent to around P5 billion worth of damage to schools, infrastructure and facilities.

The DepEd, Escobedo said, has a quick reaction fund for school disaster repairs worth P2.1 billion, but with the damage due to Kristine, they are looking to augment the fund from the Office of the President to cover the remaining cost of damage.

Meanwhile, Escobedo said that aside from the Cordillera Administrative Region, which has lost 36 school days, the Ilocos and Cagayan Valley regions also lost 30 school days, followed by the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) with 28 days and 23 school days for the Bicol Region. Metro Manila has lost 20 school days.

He said there would be make-up classes in regions that have a high number of school days lost, with Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Cordillera regional directors committing to hold these classes.

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) load food packs on the BRP Teresa Magbuana at Pier 13 in Manila on Nov. 20, 2024. The PCG will deliver 15,000 relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the families affected by Super Typhoon ‘Pepito’ in the province of Catanduanes. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) load food packs on the BRP Teresa Magbuana at Pier 13 in Manila on Nov. 20, 2024. The PCG will deliver 15,000 relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the families affected by Super Typhoon ‘Pepito’ in the province of Catanduanes. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) load food packs on the BRP Teresa Magbuana at Pier 13 in Manila on Nov. 20, 2024. The PCG will deliver 15,000 relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the families affected by Super Typhoon ‘Pepito’ in the province of Catanduanes. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN