14 schools in Mindanao damaged by Sendong floods

MANILA, Philippines–Tropical storm  Sendong damaged at least 14 schools in worst-hit parts of Mindanao, a field assessment of the Department of Education showed.

Inspection teams that checked typhoon damage in affected areas found that four schools in Agusan del Norte sustained “wall cracks” while others were “ripped apart.”

In Cagayan de Oro City, four schools suffered water damage after experience floods of up to five feet deep.

In Lanao del Sur, six schools were “severely damaged,” according to the report compiled as of Dec. 19 by Felix Villanueva Jr., an official at DepEd’s engineering division.

He said field engineers and technical staff are in other parts of Northern Mindanao to assess the damage in other schools.

Education Secretary Luistro and other top education officials are currently visiting affected villages in the cities of Cagayan and Iligan.