DepEd estimates P7-M rehabilitation cost for quake-hit schools

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday said the cost for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools damaged by the magnitude 6 earthquake that hit Davao de Oro on Wednesday night may reach P7 million.

As of Thursday, DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said 14 schools were damaged in the Davao Region.

“Ang protocol po natin is that Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) or distance learning muna ang mga learners affected by schools with infrastructure damage, para hindi maalantala ang pag-aaral,” Poa said.

(We will implement ADM or distance learning for learners in schools with infrastructure damage so their studies will not be interrupted.)

“Then provision of temporary learning spaces for schools with major infrastructure damages, while being repaired,” he added.

The tectonic earthquake hit New Bataan, Davao de Oro on Wednesday.

According to the Office of Civil Defense, 16 people were injured while 97 others were affected by the quake.

In its 8 a.m. report on Friday, the OCD said 52 infrastructures and two houses were damaged due to the impact of the earthquake, which also triggered two landslide incidents.

A total of 745 aftershocks have been recorded as of Friday morning, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. —Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK, GMA Integrated News