Photo courtesy of Sonny Angara Facebook page.
The Department of Education (DepEd) announced that it will cost at least P1.6 billion to repair schools damaged by super typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon. This damage has significantly affected students across nine regions in the country.
During a House Committee on Basic Education and Culture meeting on Aug. 5, DepEd Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo reported that 355 classrooms were completely destroyed, while 1,555 others suffered partial damage.
In addition, 274 handwashing facilities were also impacted. These damages occurred in the National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.
Escobedo provided a breakdown of the costs, saying, “The estimated cost for infrastructure damages, we generated a report to about P1.66 billion—P887 million for reconstruction, and P777 million for major repairs.”
The damage extends beyond classrooms. The storms also ruined 10,773 pieces of school furniture, including tables and chairs, and 869 computer sets.
Moreover, over 344,241 learning resources were damaged, particularly in NCR and several municipalities in Bulacan.
The start of the school year 2024-2025 began on July 29, but many schools only resumed classes on Aug. 5 due to the recent typhoons and monsoon rains.
In Malabon City, 42 schools have yet to open as heavy rains caused flooding in some areas.
Nangka Elementary School in Marikina City, serving over 3,700 students from Kinder to Grade 6, began classes on Monday.
Principal Dr. Wilfredo Padua explained that the school had to delay classes because it was used as an evacuation center after the weather disturbances.
In Mangatarem, Pangasinan, 54 schools also started classes a week later than the official start of the school year.
Meanwhile, DepEd’s Planning Service – Education Management Information System reported that 23,845,025 out of 27,722,835 target enrollees have been recorded for the 2024-2025 school year across elementary to senior high school levels in public and private schools nationwide, achieving 86% of its enrollment target two weeks into the new school year.
The total includes 280,736 enrollees in the Alternative Learning System (ALS).
The highest enrollment numbers were in Calabarzon (3,464,861), Central Luzon (2,528,831), and Metro Manila (2,472,198).
On Aug. 5, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara oversaw the oath-taking of new education officials, including Undersecretaries Peter Irving Corvera, Trygve Olaivar, Mel John Verzosa, and Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma.
