Some P363.50 million may be needed to rehabilitate schools damaged by shear line rains and flooding in some parts of Visayas and Mindanao over the Christmas weekend, an official of the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Monday.
DepEd Spokesperson Michael Tan Poa said, there were 36 schools that sustained infrastructure damage in Mindanao with 25, in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), Caraga with 10, and one in Zamboanga Peninsula.
“We are still verifying the number of schools currently being used as evacuation centers. The figure is probably lower today, [January 2],” Poa said citing that as of December 30, 50 schools are still being used as evacuation centers.
Under DepEd Order No. 37 issued by Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte, schools may be used as immediate evacuation sites in times of calamities but not for more than 15 days.
Poa, meanwhile, said that the DepEd has received no reports of learners who died or went missing due to flooding.
However, eight learners were reported to have sustained injuries, while 2,548 learners were reported to have been displaced.
“On the part of DepEd, we will be providing response interventions to affected schools, learners and personnel,” Poa said.