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 — Over 12,000 schools nationwide were affected by torrential rains and flooding brought by Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) and the southwest monsoon, or habagat, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Friday.
The agency said that as of 11 a.m. on July 26, at least 12,866 schools from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); the National Capital Region (NCR); and Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 4-B, 5, 6, and 8 were affected by inclement weather conditions.
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The agency also said 65 school divisions were affected.
At least 246 schools were flooded while 425 were used as evacuation centers. As of Friday, 64 schools are still being used as temporary shelters.
The DepEd also reported that 738 public schools in the CAR, the NCR, and Regions 3 and 12 would not be able to join in the opening of classes on Monday, July 29.
In a press conference on Friday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the opening of classes in schools in Malabon City and Valenzuela City would push through on July 31 and August 5, respectively.
“As a general rule, we really want the school opening to push through on July 29, but others can’t really make it,” he said in Filipino.
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“So far, the report to me is that the NCR, Region 4-A, and it seems Region 3 also were severely damaged,” he added.