Over 10,000 schools suspend classes as habagat dumps rain in Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — In-person classes have been suspended in more than 10,000 public schools as of Monday, August 10, amid the continued heavy rains from the southwest monsoon (habagat).

The Department of Education (DepEd) said in its latest situation report that the disruptions have affected 6.5 million learners and nearly 289,000 school personnel across 61 divisions in eight regions.

Central Luzon had the largest number of disrupted in-person learning, 3,546 schools suspending in-person classes. Region I followed with 2,428, the Cordillera Administrative Region with 1,842, the National Capital Region with 827, and Calabarzon with 623.

At least 722 schools have sustained damage so far, based on the latest count, due to the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclone Maymay.

On the number of classrooms damaged, DepEd has counted 751 as totally destroyed, 818 as having sustained major damage, and 2,355 with minor damage.

DepEd so far estimates at least P20 million is needed for cleanup operations for the 722 schools, while the cost for minor repairs of classrooms has climbed to P115 million.

Fifty-two schools have been converted into evacuation centers, with 239 classrooms sheltering over 1,000 displaced families.

The majority evacuees — 614 families — were in Calabarzon, followed by Central Luzon with 336.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in a news release that he has directed schools to apply DepEd's emergency protocol and system for suspending classes and resuming operations.

Beyond damaged structures, schools also lost 5,368 chairs, 380 ICT equipment units, and 6,227 learning materials, according to DepEd's situation report.

The southwest monsoon continued to dump heavy to intense rains over parts of Luzon on Monday.

Maymay exited the Philippine landmass on August 6 and dissipated the next day.

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