ILOILO City – With hundreds of schools sustaining heavy damage or were converted into evacuation centers, typhoon “Tino” (international name: Kalmaegi) crippled the education sector in Western Visayas, even if momentarily, forcing over 56,000 learners to shift to alternative delivery modes.
According to the Department of Education (DepEd), 132 schools in Antique and 86 schools in Capiz temporarily closed due to flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage. As of 7 a.m. on November 6, around 56,459 students were affected.
“Many schools remain unsafe for classes, either because of structural damage or because they are currently being used to shelter evacuees,” DepEd-6 reported.
In Antique, four municipalities recorded 35,394 displaced learners, while Capiz reported another 21,065 affected students. Data from local governments also showed that 42,994 families, or 97,924 individuals, were displaced in Antique, while over 56,000 residents in Capiz fled their homes as the storm intensified on November 3.
The Capiz Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported multiple landslides and road obstructions caused by fallen trees, particularly in Panay town’s Barangay Magubilan and Calle Martirez in Barangay Poblacion Ilaya, which hampered relief and rescue operations.
To accommodate evacuees, 817 schools across Western Visayas have been converted into temporary shelters, housing 18,359 children and 634 education personnel. DepEd-6 said 3,944 classrooms and 185 ancillary rooms are currently being used for evacuees.
Damage assessments also revealed 20 classrooms with minor damage, seven with major damage, and 15 totally destroyed. One water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facility and 275 learning materials were also reported damaged, along with four computer units.
As cleanup operations continue, DepEd-6 said it is working closely with local government units to ensure safe school reopening and provide psychosocial support to displaced learners.
“The road to recovery will be long, but we are committed to restoring normalcy for our students and school personnel,” DepEd-6 said./PN
