Many schools across the country have been affected by Tropical Storm Maymay and the southwest monsoon (habagat). Consequently, classes in several areas have been suspended due to damaged school facilities.

According to the Department of Education (DepEd), an estimated P165.2 million fund is needed for the repair and cleanup operations to more than 800 disaster-hit schools.

The operations aim to restore and repair facilities before classes resume once the weather improves.

Aside from school building repairs, the agency reports several damages in equipment and materials, including over 600 chairs, more than 400 ICT equipment unit, and over 7,000 learning materials.

Currently, more than 100 schools are being utilized as evacuation centers, and 387 classrooms serve as temporary shelters for affected families.

Amid disasters, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that the welfare and safety of students and teachers must always be considered.

According to DepEd, the learning provisions are set to be deployed for schools that are unable to conduct regular classes amid disaster; the provisions include printed learning pockets, alternative delivery materials, and emergency learning resources.

Schools have also been instructed to coordinate with local government units (LGUs), disaster risk reduction and management offices, and DepEd field offices to determine the appropriate learning continuity level in their respective areas.

With reports from Mia Alonzo