THE DEPARTMENT of Education on Friday said 738 schools are expected to postpone the scheduled opening of classes for School Year 2024-2025 on July 29 due to the effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon and Super Typhoon Carina.

Of the total, 442 are in Central Luzon, 206 are in the National Capital Region (NCR), 86 are in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and four in Cotabato, according to the DepEd’s latest partial report.

The local governments of Marikina and Valenzuela have announced the postponement of school opening in all public and private schools in their municipalities, adjusting the schedule to Aug. 5.

Overall, 12,866 schools were affected in Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, however, urged other unaffected schools to proceed with the school opening to prevent learning loss.

“Kaya gusto man ng iba na i-postpone talaga nang malawakan, we cannot do it. Because alam natin, what if next week may tumama na naman typhoon, pinostpone natin. So iyong may kaya sana pumasok na sila because the learning loss is very real,” he said in a press conference.

The Education chief also assured the implementation of makeup classes for missed school days for the upcoming school year.

According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the DepEd has a PHP3.2 billion Quick Response Fund (QRF) and National Indemnity Insurance Program (NIIP) for 132,862 school buildings which may be utilized for school repairs following the infrastructure damage. (PNA)