A TOTAL of 312 public schools sustained infrastructure damage following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Uwan, the Department of Education reported.

DepEd said Bicol and CALABARZON were among the hardest-hit regions.

According to the department’s November 10, 12 p.m. Situation Report from the DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service, 1,182 classrooms suffered minor damage, 366 classrooms sustained major damage, and 261 were totally destroyed.

These figures are still being verified as additional reports continue to come in from regional and division offices.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara assured affected communities that DepEd remains committed to the immediate protection of students, teachers, and school personnel, as well as to ensuring the long-term continuity of learning.

“Mabigat ang pinagdadaanan ng ating mga guro, magulang, at mag-aaral sa nagdaang Bagyong Uwan at Tino. Nakikiramay tayo sa ating mga kababayan at tinitiyak namin sa DepEd na kasama ninyo kami sa bawat hakbang ng pagbangon at muling pagbuo ng pag-asa sa bawat silid-aralan,” Angara said.

DepEd also reported that 5,572 classrooms in 1,072 schools across 11 regions are currently being used as evacuation centers, temporarily sheltering displaced families.