DepEd eyes MIMAROPA as model for post-storm recovery

The Department of Education (DepEd) is turning the storm-hit MIMAROPA region into a model for structural reforms in basic education, aiming to fix “systemic” weaknesses exposed by recent disasters and strengthen schools’ long-term resilience.

During the nationwide Management Committee (MANCOM) meeting in Puerto Princesa City, Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the department’s shift from reactive responses to proactive solutions in dealing with the disruption to education caused by natural calamities.

“Ang tungkulin natin ay ayusin ang ugat ng problema para hindi na ito maulit sa susunod na henerasyon,” Angara said, referring to efforts to fix the root causes of recurring issues.

(Our duty is to fix the root of the problem so it does not repeat in the next generations.)

In Palawan alone, division reports confirmed that 781 classrooms were damaged by Typhoon Tino.

Repairs are ongoing, and many schools have adopted modular and digital Alternative Delivery Modes (ADMs) due to unstable power and connectivity, according to DepEd officials.

Before the MANCOM, Angara met with Palawan Governor Amy Alvarez and visited Palawan National School, the largest public high school in the region, with roughly 10,000 students.

DepEd said lessons from MIMAROPA and feedback from field offices will guide upcoming policy reforms in resilient school infrastructure, early-grade literacy, career progression, and enhanced system transparency.

The agency said the situation underscores the need for climate-resilient school buildings, robust ADM strategies, and sustained funding for divisions frequently disrupted by disasters.

The region is composed of five provinces: Occidental and Oriental Mindoro; Marinduque; Romblon and Palawan, which also suffered heavy beating from the back-to-back typhoons Tino and Uwan.

DepEd officials from the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Calabarzon, Bicol, Negros Island, and Central Visayas also presented damage assessments and response plans during the MANCOM.

The meeting included updates on the Strengthened Senior High School (SSHS) Program, with officials reporting “generally positive” results from first-quarter rapid assessments and field-testing of the SSHS Monitoring Tool (SSHSMT).

Given MIMAROPA’s labor profile in agriculture, fisheries, and ecotourism, DepEd is tailoring curriculum offerings to regional market demands, seeking better alignment between education and employment.

The department also finalized guidelines for a national registry of recognized teacher education programs, developed with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Teacher Education Council (TEC), and Education Committee II (EDCOM II).

The initiative aims to bolster the integrity of teacher credentials and prevent degrees from unaccredited institutions, part of a broader campaign against “diploma mills.”

Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing into alleged “items-for-sale” schemes within DepEd, with the agency assuring that safeguards are in place to protect hiring and appointment processes from corruption.— MCG, GMA Integrated News