EDUCATION Secretary Sonny Angara led the inauguration of a flood-resilient school building and spearheaded relief operations in the flood-hit municipalities of Masantol and Macabebe, Pampanga.

Angara was joined by Pampanga 4th District Representative Anna York Bondoc, DepEd Region III Assistant Regional Director Jessie L. Amin, and Schools Division Superintendent Romeo S. Alip for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of a new flood-resistant school building at Masantol High School.

According to the Department of Education, the structure is part of a broader initiative to make learning spaces more disaster-resilient amid the worsening impacts of climate change.

“Yung nakita nating classroom sa Masantol, I think ‘yun talaga ang magiging modelo for flood-prone areas—sa Bicol, dito, sa Bulacan. ‘Yan din ang gusto ng Pangulo, na magkaroon tayo ng permanent solutions, hindi lang adjustments. We must adapt our policies,” Angara said.

He also held a dialogue with educators, students, and community members affected by recent floods during a roundtable forum held in another part of the school.

Later, he led the distribution of food packs and essential supplies to affected teaching and non-teaching personnel.

“Kapag may kalamidad, una nating tanong: ligtas ba ang mga paaralan? Kumusta ang ating mga guro at kawani? Kaya’t sinigurado ng DepEd, alinsunod sa utos ng Pangulo, na may agarang tugon at aktwal na pagdalaw sa inyo ngayon,” said Angara, who also visited San Isidro Elementary School and San Nicolas Elementary School.