DepEd logs P363M worth of damage in schools due to shear line, LPA in Mindanao

Over P363 million worth of damage were recorded in several schools in Mindanao due to the rains and floods brought by the shear line and low pressure area (LPA), the Department of Education (DepEd) said Monday.

Based on the agency’s education cluster report as of December 30, 2022, 36 schools based in Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga sustained infrastructure damage.

Twenty-five of these schools were in Northern Mindanao, 10 in Caraga, and one in Zamboanga Peninsula.

An estimated P363.50 million would be needed for the repair and reconstruction of these learning institutions, according to DepEd.

DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said there were no learners who reportedly died or went missing due to the effects of the shear line and LPA.

However, eight students sustained injuries, while 2,548 others were displaced.

There were 51 schools also being used as evacuation centers as of Friday, but Poa said that the figure is already “probably lower” on Monday.

“On the part of DepEd, we will be providing response interventions to affected schools, learners and personnel,” Poa said in a message to reporters.

A total of 51 individuals reportedly died due to the shear line rains since the Christmas weekend, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Monday.

Damage to infrastructure worth P1.137 billion and to agriculture worth P243.029 million were reported due to the rains and floods. The National Irrigation Administration also reported over P2 million of damage. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News