DepEd urged to expedite repairs of classrooms damaged by bad weather

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to fast-track the assessments and repairs of classrooms damaged by tropical cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong, as well as the enhanced Southwest Monsoon or Habagat. 

Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said that the DepEd should work with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units in order to expedite the rehabilitation of affected classrooms. 

“Kung mananatiling sira ang ating mga classroom, magpapatuloy ang banta sa kaligtasan ng ating mga mag-aaral at guro,” he said in a statement. 

(If our classrooms remain damaged, the threat to the safety of our students and teachers will continue.) 

Based on DepEd’s situation report as of Wednesday night, its disaster risk reduction and management service recorded 1,876 classrooms with minor damage, 562 with major damage, and 531 that were totally damaged. 

Most of the classroom damage was logged in the Cordillera Administrative Region (738), followed by the Ilocos Region (732) and then Central Luzon (227). 

DepEd said that it had initiated the release of response funds to affected schools to support immediate clearing and clearing operations. 

Gatchalian also underscored the importance of making classrooms and school buildings climate-resilient “not just to protect lives, but to break the costly cycle of repair and reconstruction every time disaster strikes.” 

“Investing in resilient infrastructure now will save resources, safeguard learning, and ensure continuity in education,” the senator added. —VBL, GMA Integrated News