ILOILO City – Super typhoon “Odette” left the Department of Education (DepEd) in Western Visayas with the daunting task of rehabilitating 166 damaged public elementary and high schools.
DepEd Region 6’s Rapid Assessment of Damages Report (RADAR) as of Dec. 27 showed 380 classrooms totally destroyed and 397 more partially damaged.
By DepEd-6’s estimate, it needed P1.1 billion to reconstruct the destroyed classrooms and repair those with damage.
The RADAR figures, however, required further assessment, stressed Hernani Escullar Jr., information officer of DepEd-6.
While some schools reported having incurred partial damage, some may be classified as “major damage”, he told Panay News.
“Maghambal nga major, daku gawa ang kahalitan sa mga classrooms,” Escullar explained.
Aside from classrooms, “Odette” also damaged “non-infrastructures” such as 206,729 learning materials that included books, modules and visual aids, DepEd-6’s RADAR further showed.
Also damaged were 721 computers and 5,249 school furniture (desks, armchairs and chalkboards).
“Kon tan-awon naton sa estimate for the reconstruction and rehabilitation sining mga schools nga may damage, lapit-lapit P1.1 billion ang kinahanglanon para ma-rehab,” said Escullar.
Considered as most affected by the typhoon were the schools division of Sipalay City and Kabankalan City in southern Negros Occidental where “Odette” unleashed strong, destructive winds and torrential rains on Dec. 16.
To help schools, DepEd-6 launched an “adopt a schools division office” scheme – schools divisions not affected by “Odette” are to help their not-so-lucky counterparts.
Escullar also said DepEd-6 welcomes assistance from private groups and individuals.
Also, he said, despite the damage to schools, pilot face-to-face classes in select Region 6 schools were not severely hampered.
“May nag-signify nga may damage ang iban nga schools chosen for the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes apang minor lang, gani mapadayun ang ila nga classes,” said Escullar.
Schools piloting face-to-face classes are Banga Elementary School in Aklan; Taras Elementary School in Guimaras; Hiyang Hiyang Elementary School, Aguntilang Elementary School, Colonia Divina Integrated School, Patag Diotay Elementary School, and Mauboy Elementary School, all in Negros Occidental; Malinao School for Philippine Craftsmen in Aklan;, Antique National School in Antique; Mabini National High School in Bacolod City; Valladolid National High School, and Victorias National High School in Negros Occidental; Mulapula National High School in Iloilo province; Alangilan National High School in Bacolod City; and Olotayan Integrated School in Roxas City.
On Tuesday, Dec. 28, Education secretary Leonor Briones said some P3.37 billion would be needed to rebuild and repair 2,402 schools damaged by “Odette” in the Visayas and Mindanao.
In a taped briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte, Briones said the agency recorded 1,086 totally damaged schools and 1,316 partially damaged schools.
The said budget to reconstruct and repair and rehabilitate the affected schools would probably come from the 2022 national budget, which is yet to be signed by the President./PN
