DepEd chief orders start of rebuilding work on typhoon-damaged school buildings

MANILA, July 17 (PNA) - Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro has ordered the agency's Physical Facilities, Schools Engineering Division (PFSED) to closely monitor the condition of schools in the regions affected by typhoon Basyang and to start rebuilding work on the damaged buidings.

"Basyang" damaged 38 schools - 15 in Central Luzon; six in Calabarzon; two in Mimaropa; eight in the Bicol Region; and seven in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“While the typhoon left some of our school children with damaged classrooms, textbooks and computer facilities, we will do everything we can to bring everything back to normalcy as soon as possible,” said the Education chief.

In the Rapid Disaster Assessment Report (RADAR) submitted by the DepEd Disaster Reduction Management Office - PFSED as of July 15, total damage has reached P12.2 million where P7.35 million was reported in Central Luzon, P3.2 million in the Bicol Region, P1 million in Mimaropa, P0.58 million in Calabarzon and P0.08 million in the NCR or Metro Manila.

From the latest RADAR, nine schools are being used as evacuation centers - seven in Region IV-A, and two in Region V, housing a total of 163 families.

Of the 163 families, 157 families are being housed in seven schools - five in Laguna and two in Rizal - in Region IV-A. On the other hand, in the Bicol Region, Jose Panganiban National High School and Parang Elementary School, both in Camarines Norte, shelter three families each.

Luistro emphasized the importance of coordination and support among DepEd local offices in times of crisis.

As of this writing, schools used as evacuation centers have resumed classes. Evacuees are housed in non-academic rooms such as the home economics building and covered courts, allowing classes to be held in classrooms. Subsistence requirements of the families are provided by their respective local governments. (PNA)
LAP/HCT