THE Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd 7) has reported that over 4,600 classrooms in Cebu were damaged by the series of earthquakes and aftershocks that struck the province in recent weeks.
Of the number, around 755 were destroyed; 1,252 suffered major damage; while 2,661 sustained minor damage, according to DepEd 7 Director Salustiano Jimenez.
Jimenez said the total cost of damage to school infrastructure in Cebu has reached nearly P4 billion.
He added that rehabilitation efforts have been hampered not only by bad weather, but also by continued aftershocks that had further worsened the condition of several schools.
“At first, a school reported zero damage. But the following day, it already had minor damage. And then there are schools that reported minor damage at first, then in the following days, the damage became major,” Jimenez said in Cebuano.
DepEd 7 engineers, supported by disaster risk reduction and management office (DRRMO) personnel from quake-affected local government units, along with local and regional experts, have so far covered over 500 schools throughout the province, including those in the islands of Bantayan and Camotes.
Jimenez said the DepEd 7 is still consolidating reports from field engineers and school heads to determine the full extent of quake-related damage and identify schools that require immediate structural inspection before classes can safely resume.
The DepEd 7, through funds downloaded from the central office, will prioritize clearing debris in heavily damaged schools and the construction of temporary learning sites (TLS) to ensure learning continuity before full class resumption.
The agency’s disaster response funds will help shoulder expenses for debris clearing and temporary facilities.
Repairs
In coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Jimenez said DepEd’s quick response fund, amounting to over P1 million per school, will be used for major repair works.
Schools with damage estimates below P1 million will be handled directly by the DepEd 7.
Jimenez added that they have tapped the help of the Cebu Provincial Government in constructing the TLS, allowing more temporary infrastructure built at a short period of time. One TLS could be built in 30 days.
Jimenez said public schools in northern Cebu have shifted to modular learning to avoid class disruptions; while private schools have been given the discretion to shift to online classes.
Some schools in northern Cebu still do not have a reliable power or internet connection, said Jimenez.
Aside from modules, Jimenez said the DepEd has provided learning materials to augment the learning activities of both the teachers and students. / EHP