'Habagat' enhanced by 'Goring' damages 558 classrooms in Western Visayas
By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY – Rains from the southwest monsoon or “habagat” enhanced by typhoon “Goring” damaged 558 classrooms in Western Visayas.
Eighteen of these were totally damaged.

A CLASSROOM of the Bia-an Elementary School in Hamtic town, Antique province was flooded due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by typhoon ‘Goring.’ (Galileo Magbanua)
Department of Education (DepEd)-6 Director Ramir Uytico said it was unfortunate that these classrooms were damaged despite no areas in Western Visayas under any storm signal.
Dr. Leonrico Barredo, DepEd-6 Support Services Division chief, said six classrooms were totally damaged in Antique, four in Bacolod City, four in Negros Occidental, two in Guimaras, and two in Iloilo.
Thirty-eight classrooms were partially damaged and need major repairs – 24 in Guimaras, 10 in Antique, three in Iloilo City, and one in Iloilo.
On the other hand, 502 classrooms were partially damaged and need minor repairs – 150 in Iloilo, 120 in Guimaras, 106 in Bacolod City, 36 in Negros Occidental, and 37 in Antique.
Uytico said repairs can only be done if the school or the division has a budget.