Schools with minimal damage to proceed with July 29 class opening - DepEd

Schools without or with only minimal damage due to Typhoon Carina and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) can proceed with the class opening on July 29, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Thursday.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said that it is understandable that schools in heavily affected areas would have to postpone the opening of the school year.

“Some schools will really have to postpone their openings kasi maraming aayusin at lilinisin,” he said in a statement. “Pero yung wala o minimal ang damage itutuloy pa rin ang pasukan.”

(Some schools will really have to postpone their openings because of the repairs and cleaning to be done. But those without or with minimal damage can proceed with the opening.)

The DepEd chief added that he would be issuing on Friday the list of schools that would have to delay their class opening.

“Hindi namin pipilitin yung mga nasalanta talaga at mahihirapan sa school opening ng Lunes,” said Angara.

(We will not force schools that were devastated and cannot really proceed with the school opening on Monday.)

As of Thursday, the DepEd said 90 schools in nine regions (CAR, NCR, Region I, Region II, Region III, Region IV-A, Region IV-B, Region VI, and Region VIII) sustained damage.

The total estimated cost of reconstruction and rehabilitation is P630 million.

The report also said 324 schools in six regions (CAR, NCR, Region I, Region III, Region IV-A, and Region VI) are being used as evacuation centers.

Several areas in the Philippines have declared a state of calamity due to massive flooding.

Aside from Metro Manila, other areas that declared such a state were Bataan, Bulacan, Batangas, Cavite, Pinamalayan in Oriental Mindoro, Kabacan and Pikit in Cotabato, and Butuan in Davao Occidental, among others.

Typhoon Carina, which reached super typhoon level on Wednesday, has already exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility, but PAGASA said rains may linger until Friday.  —VBL, GMA Integrated News