THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) has reminded schools nationwide to prepare for the effects of the southwest monsoon, known as “habagat,” which annually brings heavy to torrential rain that cause flooding.
In a June 29 memorandum signed by then Secretary Armin Luistro, who stepped down the next day, all DepEd officials and heads of public and private primary and secondary schools were instructed to ensure that all personnel and learners would be ready for the rainy season.
The instruction was to make sure measures were in place for the safety of all school personnel, students, facilities, learning materials and vital school records from any hazard “to enable learners’ continued access to education.”
The DepEd also encouraged the regular conduct of school disaster response drills or simulations, the preparation of the school contingency plan as well as the posting of emergency hotline numbers in the classrooms and administrative offices.
It said that all school personnel and students should be educated on weather disturbances as well as their possible effects and the measures that should be undertaken using materials from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration website.
“All schools are encouraged to involve the students, their families and communities in preparing for disasters for this is an effective method of raising their awareness and action about risk education,” it said.