THE DEPARTMENT of Education  on Friday said it has started the processing of PHP19.14 million as an initial batch of recovery funds to ensure swift learning continuity following severe disruptions caused by the southwest monsoon (habagat) and enhanced by tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay.

Through its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS), the DepEd said the disaster recovery framework covers funds for cleanup and clearing operations for 1,244 affected schools, as well as minor repairs to restore 4,259 classrooms with minor structural damage.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that while physical safety remains the absolute priority, the agency is moving fast to minimize learning loss and restore damaged infrastructure.

“Unang-una sa lahat, ang kaligtasan ng ating mga mag-aaral, guro, at kawani ang aming pangunahing prayoridad. Ngunit habang sinisigurado natin ang kanilang seguridad, hindi natin pwedeng hayaang matigil nang matagal ang pag-aaral ng ating mga kabataan (First and foremost, the safety of our students, teachers and staff is our top priority. However, while we ensure their security, we cannot allow the education of our youth to be prolonged on hold),” he said.

“Ginagawa ng DepEd ang lahat para makabalik agad sa ligtas na pag-aaral ang ating mga estudyante (DepEd is doing everything possible so that our students can immediately return to safe learning),” he added.

Based on assessments as of Friday, the weather system has impacted eight regions across 73 DepEd divisions.

Around 8.4 million learners and 365,308 DepEd personnel experienced disruption in their daily educational activities due to active in-person class suspensions affecting 12,477 public schools.

Apart from physical repairs, some 230 public schools are serving as primary evacuation sites housing 6,840 families across 837 classrooms.

About 1,423 classrooms have major damage while 1,395 classrooms were totally damaged.

Reported non-infrastructure asset losses include 16,981 learning materials, 11,151 school chairs, and 579 units of IT equipment.

Schools that are unsafe to access or serve as evacuation sites were authorized to implement alternative learning delivery modalities to maintain educational continuity.

The DepEd, local government units and regional disaster management councils continue to monitor weather developments, streamline resource deployment and coordinate local school clearances. (PNA)