98 percent of schools proceed with opening of classes

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the recent widespread damage caused by Typhoon Carina and the monsoon, nearly all schools across the country opened their doors to students yesterday for the beginning of school year 2024-2025.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara went to several schools in Calabarzon, one of the areas severely hit by flooding last week, to check on the situation on the ground as schools reopened.

Angara was initially scheduled to visit Biñan Central Elementary School in Laguna, but classes in the school were suspended due to heavy rain.

“The opening of classes is OK, but I’m saddened that the opening of classes had to be postponed in some areas. But we understand that because rains were still heavy earlier,” Angara told reporters during his visit to Carmona National High School.

Data released yesterday showed that 841 schools nationwide postponed the opening of classes, representing two percent of the total number of schools nationwide.

Of the number, 452 are in Central Luzon, 225 in Metro Manila, 95 in Ilocos Region, 66 in Calabarzon and three in Soccsksargen.

The figure represents about 803,824 students.

A total of 20,598,072 students have enrolled for SY 2024-2025.

“The number of schools that deferred the opening of classes is small. It’s about two percent of the total number in the whole country, so it means about 98 percent of schools opened today,” Angara said.

Many groups have been urging the Department of Education and local chief executives to consider a week’s postponement to give families more time to address their problems and provide the DepEd the opportunity to thoroughly prepare.

With hundreds of thousands of students missing classes yesterday, Angara said schools that suspended classes may have to conduct make-up classes on the weekend to allow students in affected areas to cope with lost classroom instruction time.

“That’s usually what’s done, right? If you miss the weekday, the weekend will be used to make up,” he added.

Meanwhile, the education chief said the DepEd has access to P2 billion to P3 billion in calamity funds that could be used to repair and rehabilitate damaged classrooms.

The agency estimated the total cost of repairs and rehabilitation of damaged school infrastructure at P630 million.

For its part, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) urged Angara to address the lack of classrooms, facilities, books, water, sanitation and the needs of teaching and non-teaching personnel.

“As in the past, our schools will continue to face numerous problems stemming from decades-long neglect… These include a lack of classrooms and other facilities, books and other instructional materials, water and sanitation facilities and the pressing need for teaching and non-teaching personnel and support staff,” the TDC said.

“These issues come to light particularly at the start of classes, yet teachers and students grapple with the negative consequences daily. Our teachers’ resilience, patience and perseverance supplement these shortages, exacerbated by various calamities that hit the country annually,” it added.

The group also urged Angara to invest in teachers’ welfare to improve education.

“Ensuring that teachers are satisfied and fulfilled in their chosen profession is essential. Our educators should be proud to be public school teachers: motivated, energetic, highly productive, responsible and well-trained. The Philippine Constitution mandates adequate remuneration, including just compensation, benefits, incentives and state care, which can readily achieve this ideal status,” TDC said.

“Invest in teachers to improve education, and everything else will follow,” it added.

Manila schools

Five schools in the City of Manila will reopen classes today, a day after the scheduled start of the new school year.

The opening of classes was delayed by a day at Lakandula Elementary School, Calderon High School, Tondo High School, V. Mapa High School and Cayetano Arellano High School, according to Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan.

The delay “allow(ed) additional time for cleanup due to the typhoon’s impact,” she said, referring to the torrential rains caused by Carina.

Meanwhile, Lacuna-Pangan and Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto visited Elpidio Quirino High School in Sta. Mesa, as well as the new buildings of the Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Tondo and the Dr. Albert Elementary School in Sampaloc.

They led the distribution of school supplies such as notebooks to pupils of the two elementary schools.

Lacuna-Pangan also appealed to the pupils of the two elementary schools to take care of their new school buildings.

Pampanga flooding

In Pampanga, more than 50 public and private schools did not have classes yesterday due to flooding.

The local government of Macabebe and Minalin declared suspension of classes in all levels in both public and private schools due to flooding in the area, according to Pampanga Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

Nine schools in San Simon town, six in Apalit, six in Sto. Tomas, four in Masantol and one in Bacolor also postponed classes yesterday.

The PDRRMC said that as of Sunday, some 1,179 families were still in various evacuation centers and at least 157 barangays in the province are still flooded. 

In La Union, 14 of the 19 towns suspended the opening of classes yesterday due to continuous heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon.

Local officials declared the suspension of classes in all levels in both public and private schools as a precautionary measure.

Towns that canceled classes were Agoo, Balaoan, Bacnotan, Sudipen, Bauang, San Juan, Bangar, Tubao, Sto. Tomas, Bagulin, Aringay, Caba, Luna and San Gabriel, according to the La Union provincial information office.

A total of 63 public elementary and high schools from these municipalities have decided to open classes on Aug. 5.

School officials said the cancellation would also ensure the readiness and safety of students and teachers. 

33,286 cops

Approximately 33,286 police personnel have been deployed throughout the country to ensure an orderly start of SY 2024-2025, the Philippine National Police said yesterday.

To address safety concerns and provide immediate assistance, Police Assistance Desks (PADs) will be established in schools, according to the PNP.

In addition, extensive foot and mobile patrols will be conducted around school premises to deter criminal activities and ensure prompt responses to any incidents.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil encouraged the public to cooperate and report any suspicious activity to the nearest PAD or local authorities.

The PNP assured the public that the police force is committed to closely monitoring areas in the country that postponed the opening of classes yesterday and providing necessary assistance to affected communities. 

In Quezon City, the QC Police District (QCPD) deployed at least 886 cops and 757 force multipliers as the new school year started yesterday.

Among the 757 force multipliers are barangay peacekeeping action teams, barangay tanods, traffic enforcers and security guards who have been deployed to schools across the city, according to the QCPD.

About 117 PADs will be established to enhance response capabilities.

Quezon City reported that 143 schools opened their classes yesterday, while 15 schools will defer their opening due to the flooding experienced in Metro Manila last July 24.

The QCPD said the initiative aims to provide a visible police presence in educational institutions, transportation hubs and areas of convergence.

It focuses on preventing and addressing crime incidents that may impact students, teachers and parents.

QCPD director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan assured the public that every school in Quezon City would open their classes safely.

Maranan added that Oplan Balik-Eskwela would not only look after schools, but also help schools affected by Carina in their recovery.

In Central Luzon, some 1,000 policemen were deployed in various public and private schools across the region during the opening of classes yesterday.

Central Luzon Police director Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr. said the deployment of policemen would provide the utmost assistance among students, particularly public safety and police visibility in schools, colleges, universities and nearby areas that are most likely to be the chosen targets of criminal elements.

Hidalgo added that guidelines had been established in accordance with “Ligtas Balik-Eskwela 2024,” a directive from the national headquarters that is conducted annually.

PADs, manned by a team with a police commissioned officer as its leader, will be established in schools and other learning institutions to pre-empt problems and respond for any eventuality.

“I instructed all field officers in the region to personally visit the different schools and coordinate with school officials in order to deter lawless elements from doing illegal activities such as hold-up, pickpocketing, snatching, drug pushing and even kidnapping of hapless students,” Hidalgo said.

Additionally, police are working hand in hand with traffic auxiliaries in traffic control. — Mark Ernest Villeza, Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ghio Ong, Jun Elias, Artemio Dumlao