Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones last week said public-school teachers in the 14-kilometer danger zone of the Taal Volcano would continue to receive their salaries despite not being able to report for duty due to class suspensions.
In a radio interview, Briones pointed out that public-school teachers in Batangas and in affected areas in Cavite will receive their salaries and benefits.
“It is not their fault that this disaster happened. The teachers also evacuated,” she said.
Briones added that more than 2,000 public-school teachers lost their homes, and some of them continue to stay in evacuation centers.
To date, classes remain suspended in Batangas because the public schools there are used as evacuation centers.
“Maybe thousands of public schools are already being used as evacuation centers. We have a law that was passed in 2015 which says that the schools can be used as evacuation centers for a maximum of 15 days,” Briones said.
In line with this, Briones urged the local government units to build multipurpose halls, gymnasiums and other structures that can serve as evacuation centers to avoid disruption of classes in the future.
Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA
Image credits: DepEd.gov.ph