THE DEPARTMENT of Education on Friday said it has allocated PHP1.35 billion to support preparedness and ensure learning continuity despite the impacts of natural calamities.

The initiative is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to safeguard the welfare of learners and teachers while maintaining quality education nationwide.

“We want to make sure that, despite typhoons, flooding, or earthquakes, our learners will have learning materials to hold onto. Education must be the last to stop and the first to recover,” DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said in a statement.

The allocation will cover the printing, delivery, and training related to Learning Packets and Dynamic Learning Program (DLP) materials.

Around PHP950 million is allotted for printing and distributing Learning Packets to students from Grades 1 to 12, with each learner receiving one packet.

Each learning packet per grade level contains 25 to 50 self-paced activities related to literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills, while others include topics on advanced learning and life skills development.

The DLP materials, which provide learners with structured and activity-based lessons, have a PHP399 million fund allocation.

Students may use separate paper and notebooks to copy and answer the DLP sheets.

Angara then insisted on the need for available means to ensure disaster-resilience in all schools nationwide.

“In hard times, learners need more hope and direction. That’s why despite the limited electricity, signal, or ways, there must be means to continue learning,” he said.

Besides these, the DepEd also stressed the importance of close collaboration with local government units to implement alternative delivery modes during suspensions of face-to-face classes. (PNA)