Massive flooding drenched school equipment inside classrooms in Sergia Soriano Esteban Integrated School in Barangay Kalaklan in Olongapo City. | PHOTO: Vice Mayor Jong Cortez via Joanna Aglibot, Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — The school opening in some areas hardly hit by Typhoon Carina is postponed to give time for cleanup operations and rehabilitation, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said on Thursday.
Angara said he would issue on Friday a list of schools that deferred the opening of classes, but schools with minimal damage will push through with the opening of classes on July 29.
“The regional directors will also work with the principals to assess the readiness for school opening,” he said.
“We will not force those who were hardly hit by the typhoon,” he added in Filipino.
READ: DepEd: 45 schools damaged due to Super Typhoon Carina
The Department of Education reported that 45 schools were damaged by floods during the onslaught of Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon. An estimated cost of P308.50 million is needed to rehabilitate the buildings.
Regions with damaged school buildings are Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4A, Region 4B, Region 6, and Region 8.
Carina exited the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday morning, but Tropical Wind Cyclone Signal No. 1 remained raised over Batanes.
READ: Batanes remains under Signal No. 1 even as Typhoon Carina nears China