DepEd to relocate 3 schools wiped out by ‘Sendong’
MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Education will relocate to safer ground up to three schools in Northern Mindanao that were wiped out by Tropical Storm Sendong (international codename: Washi) as rebuilding is no longer viable, according to Education Secretary Armin Luistro.
Luistro vowed to strictly observe the environment department’s geohazard mapping in the construction of schools to better protect school infrastructure, its students and teachers from calamities.
Luistro gave the directive to DepEd civil engineers following a visit to affected areas in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro earlier. He said some schools only had “a footprint of a floor” left.
“Essentially, we have two schools that were totally washed out which we no longer intend to rebuild. They were already determined to be in the geohazard area,” Luistro told the Inquirer. “And there is perhaps a third one. I said we will not rebuild them anymore but relocate them.”
Luistro said the move was in line with President Benigno Aquino’s directive to relocate residents away from danger zones.
“The President’s marching orders is to relocate residents in the area so probably, we really don’t have to rebuild the schools there,” Luistro.
Article continues after this advertisementHe said DepEd will coordinate with other officials in the relocation of affected residents to determine where best to build new schools.
Article continues after this advertisementIn the meantime, Luistro has instructed engineers to speed up repairs in affected schools or build makeshift classrooms in badly affected buildings to ensure that students return to class by January 3.
He said resuming classes in storm-hit areas as scheduled along with the rest of public schools nationwide would help affected students cope with what they had gone through, and eventually move on.
DepEd has allotted P20 million for repair efforts in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro.
The latest damage assessment report by DepEd’s disaster management office showed that a total 39 schools were affected by Sendong, with the cost estimated at close to P106 million.
