THE COMMITTEE on Basic Education and Culture of the House of Representatives has endorsed for plenary discussion a resolution that urges the Department of Education and the Department of Public Works and Highways to enter into an agreement for the establishment and implementation of a disaster resilient master design and architectural plan for all elementary and secondary schools in coastal areas.

House Resolution 1061 aims to establish disaster resilient schools that could withstand calamities and can be used as temporary havens during calamities.

The panel said that one of the ways to avoid recurring expenditure and to prevent further damage and loss of lives is to ensure that schools in the most calamity-prone areas, particularly in coastal zones, are disaster resilient.

Based on records, the DepEd has repeatedly spent several billions of pesos for the repair and reconstruction of schools damaged by calamities.

In 2022 alone, DepEd needed P16 billion for the repair and reconstruction of schools damaged by Typhoons Odette and Agaton.

Another P1.706 billion was spent to repair schools wrecked by the Abra earthquake.

“Schools have always been among the most damage public infrastructures. Ironically, schools have also been used as temporary shelters,” the panel said in the resolution.