EDUCATION Undersecretaries Alain Del Pascua and Revsee Escobedo sat with division superintendents and school heads in Bicol region to come up with strategic solutions on minimizing damage to school facilities during calamities.

“Nandirito kami dahil gusto naming mag-inspect ng mga facilities. Gusto naming malaman ano ba talaga ang strategic solution sa mga pasilidad na iyan. Taon-taon nalang nasisira ang ating mga facilities, taon-taon nalang ‘pag dumating ang bagyo, nasisira lagi ang ating mga school buildings,” Pascua said.

“Gusto namin talaga makakuha ng permanent solution para sa mga pasilidad natin na iyan. Kaya lahat ng mga ito ay ating lubos na pinag-aaralan,” he added.

Pascua noted that DepEd will meet with officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways to discuss the redesigning of school buildings.

Schools division offices and school heads also gave recommendations and suggestions regarding the materials that can be used as well as possible adjustments on school design.

DepEd engineers are set to submit assessment reports on damaged schools by November 30.

“This week umiikot lahat ng engineers natin dito sa Bicol para ng sa ganoon ay ma-check lahat ng damages. Ang ginagawa natin, lahat ng engineers ng Central Luzon, Manila at karatig-lugar ay pupunta lahat sa Bikol para matulungan mag- assess ng mga damages dahil binigyan natin sila ng deadline na dapat by November 30 tapos na ‘yung Program of Works ng mga eskwelahan na na-damage. Nang sa ganoon, mabigyan na agad ng pondo at pagdating ng January ay pwede na tayo mag-start ng reconstruction,” Pascua said.

Pascua’s team also visited Naga City and Camarines Sur on Tuesday and Sorsogon on Wednesday.

The team, composed of representatives from the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service, will visit more schools in Bicol this week.