Carina, Habagat Cause P1.6 Billion in School Damages, DepEd Reports

The Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Monday that the cost of reconstructing and repairing schools damaged by Super Typhoon Carina and the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat, has reached at least P1.6 billion.

Extensive Damage to Schools

During a House Committee on Basic Education and Culture meeting, DepEd Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo reported that 355 classrooms were completely destroyed, while 1,555 others sustained partial damage. Additionally, 274 handwashing facilities were affected.

These damages were spread across nine regions: National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.

“The estimated cost for infrastructure damages is around P1.66 billion—P887 million for reconstruction and P777 million for major repairs,” Escobedo stated.

Non-Infrastructure Losses

Apart from structural damages, DepEd reported that 10,773 pieces of school furniture, including tables and chairs, were damaged. Furthermore, 869 computer sets were destroyed by the severe weather. Over 344,241 learning resources were also damaged, particularly in NCR and several municipalities in Bulacan.

School Year Impact

The School Year 2024-2025 officially began on July 29, but some schools postponed the start of classes to August 5 due to the effects of the recent typhoons and the Southwest Monsoon. Notably, 42 schools in Malabon City have yet to commence classes as heavy rains and flooding have continued to affect the area.