Classes Go On Despite Gap in Classroom Repair in Storm-Hit North

Not all classrooms that were severely damaged in Yolanda-hit localities in northern Cebu were totally repaired and reconstructed after a year of the tragedy but the gap has not prevented classes from continuing in temporary learning spaces.

Dr. Victor Yntig, focal person on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) of the Department of Education (DepEd-7), admitted that a lot still needs to be done one year of commemorating the Yolanda disaster that badly hit northern Cebu, especially in the repairs of classroom buildings as well as construction of new ones.

“The biggest gap incurred belongs to the schools under the Cebu Province Division where 1,251 classrooms needed repairs. But as of November 7, only 133 classrooms were repaired so far with a remaining gap of 1,118 classrooms that still needed to be fixed,” bared Yntig during the recent post-Yolanda press briefing that commemorated the 1st year anniversary of the tragedy.

The DepEd-7 official, however, said the gap did not disrupt schedule of classes and that public school children were able to attend school albeit in temporary learning spaces.

“What is important is that affected students attend classes on normal schedule,” added Yntig.

Yntig said two schools divisions in Cebu affected by Yolanda were the Cebu Province Division (CPD) and the Bogo City Division (BCD).

Under the CPD, around 188 new classrooms have already been constructed with 86 still undergoing works for a total of 274 classrooms.

But the number of classrooms that need to be replaced total 367 incurring a gap of 83 classrooms, said Yntig.

In Bogo City, there are 160 classrooms that are for replacement while as of October 27, 44 new classrooms have already been built while there are 81 classrooms with ongoing construction for a total of 125. “We have a gap of 35 classrooms that still need to be constructed,” disclosed Yntig.

He said there are 346 classrooms up for repair in Bogo City but only 251 were repaired as of late October with a gap of 95 classrooms still needing repair.

Pagcor is also funding the construction of 28 new classrooms in Bogo City under its ‘Silid Aralan’ Project while on Wednesday, November 12, British Foundation, Inc. is set to turn-over some newly-built classrooms and the repair of damaged ones in the city and in the town of San Remigio, said Yntig.

(rmn/fcr/PIA-7)

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