DepEd says processing funds for repair of storm-hit schools

The Department of Education (DepEd) has begun processing funds for the repair of storm-hit schools, an official under its disaster office said following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly.

Schools in the Bicol region and the provinces of Marinduque, and Batangas were among the badly-hit infrastructures during the typhoon. Rolly is the world’s strongest this year so far.

“We have started to process funds for immediate clean-up and minor repair for affected schools, to be followed with the distribution of hygiene and teachers’ and learners’ kits,” Ronilda Co, head of DepEd’s disaster risk reduction and management service (DRRMS), said.

DepEd engineers and Disaster Risk Reduction Management coordinators have also started assessing the damage of the storm to school buldings, she added.

Earlier, the DepEd reported 1,033 schools were destroyed across Luzon and Visayas. Around 1,900 schools meanwhile suffered partial damage while 3,701 suffered minor damage. Most of the damaged schools are from the Bicol region.

READ: DepEd: P3.61 B needed for reconstruction, rehabilitation of damaged schools

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones had said the education department already requested funds from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for the repair of damaged school buildings.

An estimated P3.613 billion is needed for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of damaged schools, the DepEd said.

Of the said amount, P2.65 billion would be used for rebuilding of destroyed schools and P955 million would be used for the repair of damaged ones, the DepEd said.