ILOILO City – More than 2,800 schools across Western Visayas have suspended classes and shifted to alternative learning modes as Typhoon Tino battered the region with strong winds and torrential rains, according to the Department of Education (DepEd) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS).
In its situation report issued at 10 a.m. Wednesday, the DepEd said Region 6 recorded 2,828 schools with class suspensions — one of the highest in the country — following widespread flooding, power outages, and damage to infrastructure caused by the storm. Several schools in Iloilo, Capiz, and Antique provinces were also used as evacuation centers for families displaced by floods and landslides.
At least 76 schools nationwide were reported damaged, with most located in the Visayas. The assessment showed that 64 classrooms were totally damaged, 91 sustained major damage, and 237 suffered minor damage. In Western Visayas, local DepEd divisions have begun assessing the extent of damage to roofs, walls, and school furniture in areas hardest hit by Tino, particularly in coastal and upland municipalities.
DepEd estimated that P13.7 million will be needed for immediate clean-up and repair operations across affected schools. Of this amount, P2.11 million will be used for clean-up and clearing efforts, while P11.6 million is earmarked for minor repairs to restore classrooms to functional condition.
Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) made its way across Western Visayas earlier this week, causing floods, toppled trees, and power interruptions in several areas before moving toward Palawan. As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) located the typhoon over the coastal waters of El Nido, Palawan, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 165 kph.
DepEd Region 6 has assured that modular and blended learning modes will continue until in-person classes can safely resume. Coordination with local government units is ongoing to expedite clearing operations and ensure that affected schools are ready to reopen once weather conditions improve./PN
