DepEd Ilocos Region allots P3.1-M for post-typhoon interventions

MALASIQUI: The Department of Education (DepEd) in Ilocos Region has downloaded PHP3.1 million as initial funding for the clean-up and minor repairs of schools affected by the onslaught of Super Typhoon Carina-enhanced southwest monsoon. DepEd Ilocos project development officer and regional disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) coordinator Jose Ritchie Perez, in a phone interview on Thursday, said the funds were downloaded from the Disaster Preparedness and Response Program Funds-Response Intervention of the agency. The recipients of the initial funding are six schools in Batac City, 34 in Candon City, 28 in Dagupan City, 13 in Ilocos Norte, nine in Laoag City, and 19 in Vigan City. 'The PHP3.1 million is for clean-up and minor repairs intervention but more on clean-up. This is the first batch of the intervention funds,' Perez said. Perez said they are still assessing the amount for the second batch of beneficiaries. Based on the rapid assessment of typhoon damage by DepEd Ilocos, there are 128 sc hools with reported infrastructure damage and 1,906 schools with reported non-infrastructure damage. Some 299 classrooms have incurred minor damage, 188 with major damage and 65 classrooms were totally destroyed. There are 80 temporary learning spaces requested by schools. The report said 93 schools incurred damage on non-academic facilities, including 1,034 school furniture, 4,240 learning references, and 56 computer equipment. There were 60 toilets and 25 hand washing facilities destroyed during the disaster but Perez said repair of these are not covered by the DRRM funds. Out of the 1,942 schools in the region, division engineers vetted 130 as of Aug. 8, according to Perez. 'We will do the clean-up first and minor repairs and then the major repairs will follow,' he said. Amidst the effect of the weather disturbance, all the public schools in the region have already opened their classes for the school year 2024-2025. Source : Philippines News agency