DepEd: Monsoon rains damage 2,424 classrooms
MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Maymay and the southwest monsoon have worsened the classroom shortage problem, with the Department of Education (DepEd) counting 2,424 classrooms damaged during the weather disturbances.
Based on DepEd’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) data as of 8 a.m. yesterday, out of the affected classrooms, 403 were destroyed, 505 sustained major damage while 1,516 had minor damage.
The damaged classrooms were mostly recorded in the Ilocos (Region I), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Central Luzon (Region 3).
“Additionally, non-infrastructure losses include 2,007 chairs, 274 ICT (information and communications technology) equipment units and 2,976 learning materials, affecting teaching and learning across affected regions,” the DepEd DRRMS said.
DepEd DRRMS said P74,284,000 in funds were needed to conduct minor repairs in the 1,516 classrooms with minor damage.
A separate fund amounting to P13,718,000 would be utilized for the clean-up and clearing operations (CUCO) of 505 classrooms that sustained major damage.
“In response, the DepEd DRRMS initiated the processing of CUCO and minor repair funds for the repair of damaged classrooms and cleaning and clearing operations to support learning continuity,” it added in the report.
In a related development, DepEd and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have joined forces to fast-track the recovery of public schools damaged by the monsoon rains.
In a statement, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the two agencies are pivoting their 2026 Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers–Brigada Eskwela convergence into an immediate disaster cleanup mechanism to restore affected classrooms.
Classes are suspended today in Abra, Bulacan, Ilocos Sur, Nueva Ecija, Dagupan and Bacoor in Cavite, Benguet, Lemery in Batangas, Marikina, Tuguegarao City and Metro Manila.
Local officials in the 19 towns of La Union and San Fernando City suspended classes today.
The combined effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay have affected 382,000 people in eight regions, as heavy rains brought flooding to more than 180 areas in Luzon, the Office of Civil Defense said yesterday.
At least 185,512 people have been affected in Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said yesterday.
Power restoration efforts by the Benguet Electric Cooperative continued across Baguio City and Benguet yesterday. — Rainier Allan Ronda, Jun Elias, Pia Lee-Brago, Artemio Dumlao, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ric Sapnu, Rudy Santos
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