Slow repair of damaged schools hit

Two months after supertyphoon Yolanda damaged most schools, the Department of Education (DepEd) has yet to start repairs of classrooms in north Cebu.

Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro and Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez said that so far, it is the private sector that has been helping schools in their areas, where Yolanda made landfall last November 8.

“Ang national government wala pa gyud, although we are coordinating with them. We understand the process, but it’s difficult to have to wait for them,” Corro said.

Ramirez of Medellin said the municipal government is “groping in the dark” about the plans of DepEd because Provincial Schools Superintendent Arden Monisit has not sat down with him to discuss the situation.

The Medellin municipal government has provided tarpaulin sheets as temporary roofs for classrooms.

Corro said that so far, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Dedon, and the Swiss Humanitarian Aid have done repairs in some schools.

In Medellin town, Ramirez said the American Baptist group repaired the school in Gibitngil island, and a group of Korean businessman also expressed their intention to help.

With about three months left of the school year and most schools badly damaged, , Ramirez said he could no longer expect schools to have formal classes.

The two mayors said it would be an ideal set up for funds for rebuilding to be given directly to the municipal and city governments instead of being coursed through national line agencies.

Monisit of DepEd said that the Central Office will be the one to find the budget for the repair and reconstruction of classrooms.

Each classroom is worth P650,000 and the actual start of the repair remains uncertain.

The DepEd Central Office has released P3.8 million for the reconstruction of temporary makeshift classrooms.

The Cebu provincial government also released P7 million for the repair of the classrooms while the DepEd Cebu Province has released P8 million.

As of yesterday, DepEd reported that out of 3,158 classrooms in northern Cebu, 2,189 were damaged by supertyphoon Yolanda with an estimated cost of P657 million.

Monisit said that although classes have already resumed, activities and classroom discussions remain informal.

“Teachers will use whatever resources they have. They are using what is available as of now just to continue with classes,” Monisit added.

Despite the obstacles, Monisit said classes have to go on in order to complete the required 201 school days for school year 2012-2013.

“We are not strict with the curriculum since they are affected. What is important is to complete the required number of school days,” he added.

Saturday makeup classes will start on the first weekend of January.

Classes are still being held under tents since reconstruction and repair of school buildings have not started yet./Copy Editor Jeanette P. Malinao and Correspondent Michelle Joy L. Padayhag