THE DEPARTMENT of Education on Thursday said that the estimated cost of repair and reconstruction of schools that were damaged by floods in Mindanao has reached P409 million.

As of January 4, data from the department showed that 42 schools were damaged.

Northern Mindanao recorded 30 schools with structural damage, followed by Caraga with 11 and Zamboanga Peninsula, one.

Meanwhile, DepEd said that seven schools were still being used as evacuation centers — five in Oroquieta City in Misamis Occidental, and one each in Siargao and Surigao del Norte.

DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa earlier said that eight students were injured while 2,548 others were displaced.