Palace assures P3.37 billion funding for rebuilding of Odette-hit classrooms

Malacañang on Tuesday assured that the P3.37 billion funding needed for the rebuilding of classrooms damaged by typhoon Odette would be available.

"That amount is included in the post-disaster needs assessment that is being done by the Office of Civil Defense with the help of NEDA (National Economic Development Authority). Some will come from the regular budget for 2022 under [Education Department's] school building program," acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said.

"Another portion [of the funding,] if the 2022 DepEd budget cannot cover it, will also be financed through the NDRRM (National Disaster Risk Reduction) Fund," Nograles added.

If these would not be enough, Nograles said the government would look for all ways and means "to finance the needs for the rebuilding of those classrooms."

Education Secretary Leonor Briones earlier said that Typhoon Odette damaged 1,068 classrooms with another 1,316 classrooms partially damaged.

Briones then said that the DepEd had around P230 million of its Quick Response Fund left which can be used to aid Odette-affected regions.

Based on government records, Typhoon Odette caused 370 deaths and affected over four million people in 10 regions. — DVM, GMA News