900 public school classrooms damaged, destroyed by typhoon Pablo – DepEd
MANILA, Philippines — Nearly 900 public school classrooms were “washed out” during typhoon Pablo’s onslaught, half of which were in Baganga, Davao Oriental alone.
The Department of Education (DepEd) reported at least 445 public schools with damage mostly in Davao Oriental, Davao Del Norte, Compostela Valley and Surigao Del Sur provinces, and in Surigao City and Tagum City.
As of Wednesday, the DepEd’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said at least 877 classrooms were washed out while 355 others were damaged.
The town of Baganga had the most number of damaged schools and classrooms, with at least 132 public schools damaged and 444 classrooms washed out.
In other towns in Davao Oriental, the typhoon damaged 26 schools and totally destroyed 298 classrooms in Cateel; 12 schools and 96 classrooms in Boston; 27 schools and 31 classrooms in in Caraga; and 23 schools and 21 classrooms in in Manay.
In Compostela Valley, at least 61 classrooms were washed out as 80 schools were reported damaged.
The DepEd said field reports were still coming in.
As of Monday, 230 public schools were still being used as temporary shelters for some 31,100 families.
Education Secretary Armin Luistro said he has cancelled the December 20 Christmas party at the main office in Pasig City as DepEd launched a relief drive for affected personnel and a fund drive for school supplies in damaged schools.
Luistro said they have been planning to deploy school tents to serve as temporary learning spaces in the affected areas.
In a memorandum, he appealed for donations from DepEd employees to help teaching and non-teaching personnel who were affected by the typhoon as well as those seeking shelter in schools.
He advised donors to deposit cash donations with the Landbank OSEC Trust Account No. 0672-1000-20.
Donors are requested to fax a copy of the deposit slip to DepEd Cash Division at 6337220 for accounting and documentation.
