In Central Visayas: ‘Odette’ leaves P10 billion damage to schools

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Education in Central Visayas incurred an estimated P10 billion in damages, mostly to classrooms, due to Typhoon Odette last December.

DepEd-7 regional director Salustiano Jimenez said the damages include 2,234 classrooms that were totally damaged, 500 classrooms with major damage, and 5,000 classrooms with minor damage.

 “Ang kaning totally damaged classrooms kay dili na gyud ni madala og repair. Need na gyud siya tukuran og bag-o,” said Jimenez, adding each classroom would cost between P2 million to P2.5 million.

  Those classrooms that need major repairs would entail between P50,000 to P500,000 while those classrooms that need minor repairs would entail below P50,000, Jimenez said.

Aside from the classrooms, included in the P10 billion worth damage were the six million pieces of modules, as well as computers, printers, photocopiers, etc.

With this huge damage incurred by the department, Jimenez called on local government units to help them, especially in the building of new classrooms.

 “I am appealing to the LGUs to help and support us kay ang unsay need sa LGUs like gamiton ang school as evacuation center or repacking center mao ra man pud ang ilang madali. Ilaha unta mong matabangan ug ma-priority sa LGU ang pagtukod sa mga classrooms,” Jimenez added.

  So far, the DepEd national office has given P7.6 million to DepEd-7 and an additional P17 million is expected to arrive within the month.

 Jimenez added that other regions that were not affected by Typhoon Odette also helped them, as some non-government organizations, who directly assisted the schools located in their respective localities.

 “With all of these help, we are grateful,” Jimenez further said. — KQD (FREEMAN)