More than 3,700 schools in Davao and Caraga regions have declared class suspension due to the inclement weather brought by “Auring” (international name: Dujuan).
Based on the Education Cluster Report obtained by the Manila Bulletin from Department of Education (DepEd)-Disaster Risk Reduction Management Service (DRRMS) Director Ronilda Co, there were 6,260,948 exposed learners and 15,223 exposed schools in 76 divisions under six regions as of Feb. 21.
DepEd said that “exposed” regions, divisions, schools, and/or learners are located in areas which historically have been issued with a Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal; have been issued with a General Flood Advisory; have been issued with a Heavy Rainfall Warning; have been issued with a State of Calamity; (e) have suspended classes; and/or have been included in the critical areas of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration-Department of Science and Technology (PAGASA-DOST).
Classes in Kindergarten were suspended in 3,737 schools under 18 divisions since Friday, Feb. 19.
Of this number, classes in 1,690 schools under six divisions in Region XI were suspended while 2, 047 schools in 12 divisions under Region XIII also cancelled classes.
Meanwhile, DepEd noted that 41 classrooms in 18 schools in the two identified regions currently serve as evacuation centers. These schools are temporary shelters to 148 families or 1,010 individuals - seven of which are learners.
DepEd DRRMS said that it will continue to monitor updates from DOST-PAGASA and coordinate said information to Regional and Division DRRM Coordinators of exposed and affected areas.
It will also monitor other possible effects of “Auring” and include all updates in the next situation report and will “deploy necessary response interventions to affected areas.”