Classrooms damaged by ‘Glenda’ still not repaired

LEGAZPI CITY—Barely two weeks before the opening of classes in June, over 1,000 classrooms in public schools in Bicol have not yet been repaired since Typhoon “Glenda” (international name: Rammasun) struck the region in August 2014.

Jose B. Bonto, regional administrative officer of the Department of Education (DepEd), said P188 million was needed to repair the rooms and replace walls and roofs blown away by typhoon Glenda.

Asked what has been causing the delay in repair work, Bonto pointed to the paperwork that needed to be accomplished before a budget could even be set aside.

Since the classrooms require major repair, it has to go through inspection, the results of which must be submitted to the DepEd regional office, and must be followed by another assessment process by the physical facilities department, he said.

The request for funds is forwarded to the DepEd central office, which will determine the amount and identify schools for priority funding.

Data from the DepEd regional office here showed that at least 1,033 classrooms in elementary and high schools were still up for rehabilitation. In Camarines Norte, 79 classrooms need to be repaired; in Camarines Sur, 305; in Albay, 282; in Sorsogon, 166; in Masbate, 154; and in Catanduanes, 47.

Bonto said that it was only actually during the first week of this month that the DepEd began to bid out the repair work projects. “Once it’s done, construction will start the soonest possible time,” he added.

Joven Barcelona, 59, president of the Parents-Teachers Association of Buhatan Elementary School in Barangay (village) Buhatan in Sto. Domingo town in Albay, said the school has only eight classrooms, six of them severely damaged.