THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers called on the government to immediately start the repair and renovation of damaged school facilities to ensure that they could be used in the incoming school year.

Based on the monitoring of the Department of Education, 169 schools in 9 regions were damaged by Typhoon Egay and the southwest monsoon as of July 28. The schools affected were in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Eastern Visayas and Bicol.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that 559 classrooms were damaged in different regions. Also, 38 municipalities reported that they have damaged educational materials, computers, and armchairs as of August 2, 2023.

ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio said that the government should make the repair of damaged schools a priority.

“Kinakailangang mabigyang aksyon kaagad ang pagpapaayos ng mga sirang pasilidad para matiyak na mayroong ligtas at maayos na pasilidad ang mga guro at mag-aaral para sa darating na pasukan. Malaki ang epekto ng conducive learning space para sa pagtuturo at pagkatuto,” Basilio said.

“Nagkaroon kami ng meeting kasama ang aming mga regional officers mula sa mga rehiyong apektado ng Bagyong Egay and we are concerned about the damage in the school facilities. We are certain that if it will not be addressed as soon as possible, it will be the teachers who will be burdened when they are also victims of the said typhoon. Sana hindi na maulit yung nangyari noong 2021 na napakabagal ng naisagawang pagsasaayos ng mga nasira kahit pa may pondo namang nakalaan,” Basilio added.