Five learners died in a landslide in Baguio City as continuous rains affected parts of the country, prompting the Department of Education (DepEd) to step up assessments of school facilities and safety risks.
The victims included two Grade 7 learners from Guisad Valley National High School, one Grade 3 and one Grade 4 learner from Bonifacio Elementary School, and one learner under the Alternative Learning System (ALS).
The learners were killed in the landslide in Barangay Guisad Surong, Baguio City.
DepEd expressed condolences to the families and friends of the victims and called on the education community to include them and the Cordillera region in their prayers.
The agency also ordered the assessment of damaged school infrastructure, with particular attention to slope protection measures to ensure the safety of learners and school personnel.
As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, the DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) reported that 961 schools had sustained damage, including 32 schools affected by rain-induced landslides.
Rapid damage assessments recorded 3,297 classrooms with minor damage, 1,135 with major damage and 1,093 that were totally damaged.
The department estimated that P188.551 million would be needed for cleanup and repair efforts.
Of the amount, P26.998 million would be used for cleanup and clearing operations in the 961 affected schools, while P161.553 million would fund minor repairs for 3,297 classrooms.
DepEd said class suspensions remain in effect in affected areas as rains continue, with its field offices coordinating with local government units and disaster response agencies.
As of Tuesday, 6,512,872 learners and 284,725 DepEd personnel were affected by the suspension of in-person classes in 9,890 public schools across eight regions.
The affected regions include Central Luzon, Ilocos, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Metro Manila, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley and Western Visayas.
DepEd had activated its Education in Emergencies framework on Monday through its 4H protocol amid the continuing class suspensions.
The protocol, which stands for “Hinto, Hinga, Hinay, and Hayo,” is intended to support continued learning while prioritizing the safety and preparedness of learners.
Photo from Manila Times
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