P3-B needed to repair, rebuild quake-hit Mindanao schools – DepEd

Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary for Finance-Budget and Performance Monitoring Anna Sevilla admitted that the department lacked the funding to repair all of Mindanao's quake-stricken classrooms and schools.

"Lalo na pag aftershock na ganyan, lalo hong dumadami damages na napupunta ng report sa amin. Sa dami po ng mga lindol tsaka bagyo, kasama rin ho ang sunog. Ubos na ho sa second quarter pa lamang ng 2019 ang P2 billion [for school repairs]," Sevilla said in Marisol Abdurahman Friday report on "24 Oras."

The Education Department estimated that quake damage to schools in Regions 10, 11, 12, and BARMM had reached P2.9 billion. The figure did not include books and computers that were destroyed in the earthquakes.

In total, 959 classrooms were destroyed in the quakes, 917 of which could be repaired.

The schooling of about 3.6 million children were thus affected by the earthquakes.

"Hahanapin natin sila ng lugar kung saan safe na temporary ay magkaroon ng classroom muna," Sevilla said, adding that the DepEd was looking at resorting to "shifting schedules."

This would mean that some grade levels would have classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while others would have classes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Shortening school hours was another alternative. — Angelica Y. Yang/DVM, GMA News