ILOILO City – Thirty schools in Western Visayas have sought damage assessment following the successive effects of the southwest monsoon and several tropical cyclones, as education authorities warned that continuing rains could cause further disruptions in the region.
The Department of Education (DepEd), in its situation report as of 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, said the requests were linked to the combined effects of the habagat and tropical cyclones “Luis,” “Maymay,” “Neneng” and “Obet.”
The report did not identify the affected schools in Western Visayas or provide a province-by-province breakdown of the reported damage.
Western Visayas, however, remained among the areas facing unsettled weather as the southwest monsoon continued to affect Luzon and the Visayas.
Citing the state weather bureau’s forecast, DepEd said Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region could expect cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms.
Moderate to occasionally heavy rainfall could trigger flash floods and landslides, particularly in vulnerable areas.
Nationwide, DepEd said 1,658 schools were covered by rapid damage assessments. The impact included 5,731 classrooms classified as having minor damage, 2,055 with major damage and 2,083 considered totally damaged.
The estimated cost of restoring affected school facilities has climbed to around P6.56 billion.
The bulk of the requirement, or P5.207 billion, was earmarked for the reconstruction of 484 schools. Another P1.027 billion would be needed for major repairs in 630 schools, while P280.819 million was estimated for minor repairs involving 1,459 schools.
Cleanup and clearing activities in 1,658 schools would require another P47.889 million.
DepEd said the computation did not yet cover 19 schools whose damage and repair requirements were still undergoing validation.
Central Luzon accounted for the highest number of damage assessment requests at 3,732, followed by the Ilocos Region with 2,746 and the Cordillera Administrative Region with 1,266.
Bad weather has also forced some schools elsewhere in the country to double as temporary shelters. DepEd reported that 348 schools, covering 1,309 classrooms, were accommodating 11,320 displaced families.
Flooding was separately documented in 59 schools, although Western Visayas was not among the regions listed with flooded campuses or schools being used as evacuation centers in the latest report.
As of 3 a.m. Sunday, a low-pressure area was spotted about 1,340 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon, while the Habagat continued to influence weather conditions over Luzon and the Visayas.
DepEd’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service said its regional and local offices were continuing to assess damage, monitor class suspensions and facilitate clearing and repair work.
School disaster response teams were also told to remain alert for possible localized flooding, landslides and other weather-related disruptions./PN
