‘Tisoy’ damage to Bicol schools reaches P904M

LEGAZPI CITY –– At least P904 million worth of damage has been recorded throughout Bicol due to the effects of Typhoon “Tisoy” (international name: Kammuri), which battered the region from Monday through Tuesday.

The typhoon left 240 classrooms destroyed and 543 classrooms damaged, according to the latest report from DepEd’s Rapid Assessment of Damages Report (Radar).

Mayflor Jumamil, DepEd Bicol spokesperson, said the estimated cost of the destroyed classrooms was P600 million, while the cost of the damaged classrooms was P272 million.

DepEd Bicol would also need P7.4 million to clean and repair affected schools, she said.

Aside from the infrastructure, DepEd Bicol also reported 5,933 damage school furniture, 24,923 learning materials, and 893 computer equipment.

To accommodate learners once school resumes on Monday, Jumamil said DepEd would require P24.7 million to build temporary classrooms.

“There is also a need [to build] 289 temporary learning spaces to be utilized by the learners in severely affected schools,” she said.

Meanwhile, DepEd Bicol Director Gilbert Sadsad said the initial amount of P904 was expected to increase as reports from other affected schools pour in.

Close to 2,000 schools throughout Bicol were used as evacuation centers during the onslaught of Tisoy./lzb