The rehabilitation and reconstruction of the schools damaged by the 7.0-magnitude earthquake will cost P1.706 billion, said the Department of Education (DepEd).
DepEd’s data as of Aug. 1 showed that there were 495 schools affected by the destructive quake. Of this number, 264 were from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), 4 from Metro Manila, 142 from Ilocos Region, 49 from Cagayan Valley, 34 from Central Luzon, while 2 were from CALABARZON.
“Affected schools are those in areas with reported infrastructure and non-infrastructure damage and casualties,” said DepEd.
Meanwhile, the number of damaged schools has reached 276. The tally of totally damaged classrooms, on the other hand, was 534, while the total number of partially damaged classrooms was 743.
In order to repair and reconstruct these damaged classrooms and other infrastructure, DepEd needs 1.706 billion.
Meanwhile, earlier today in a press briefing, DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa said that despite the challenges brought by this quake, classes in schools offering basic education will still begin on Aug. 22.
As part of its commitment to protect teaching, non-teaching personnel, as well as the learners themselves, DepEd will provide “temporary learning spaces” to ensure the learning continuity of affected learners.