DepEd: Classes resume in some areas affected by Taal's unrest
Published Jan 20, 2020 12:00 am
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
Classes have resumed in some areas affected by Taal Volcano’s unrest, the Department of Education (DepEd) confirmed on Monday.
Department of Education (MANILA BULLETIN)
In its Jan. 18 Education Cluster Report, DepEd said the suspension of classes in affected regions such as National Capital Region (NCR), Region III, and Region IV-B has been lifted.
According to news sources, classes were suspended in Batangas on Monday on all levels in public and private schools. In Cavite, classes were suspended on all levels in Tagaytay City, on the elementary level in public schools in Carmona, and on all levels until Tuesday in Alfonso.
Based on DepEd’s latest data, 1, 139, 897 learners in 1,600 schools in 15 divisions under Region IV-A are affected by Taal’s volcanic eruption. The affected divisions include Antipolo, Bacoor City, Batangas, Batangas City, Binan City, Cabuyao, Calamba City, Cavite, Cavite City, Laguna, Lipa City, Quezon, San Pablo City, Sta. Rosa City, and Tanauan City.
Meanwhile, DepEd noted that classes in 11 divisions remain suspended, affecting 1, 159, 648 learners in 1, 598 schools, and 34,053 personnel.
DepEd data also shows that 302 schools in 11 divisions under Region IV-A are being used as evacuation centers. A total of 1, 976 classrooms in these schools are accommodating 13, 916 families or 55, 343 individuals. DepEd said that of this number, 12, 242 are learners.
Inspecting schools in locked-down areas
In an effort to assess the school buildings affected by the Taal crisis, members of the DepEd Executive Committee visited schools in Batangas last week.
In a Facebook post, DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua said that after meeting with key DepEd and local officials in Bolbok, Batangas last Friday, he and Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo, Assistant Secretary Attorney Salvador Malana III, and Director IV Ronilda Co “immediately proceeded to two schools” in Lemery and Agoncillo in Batangas, both on lockdown due to the Taal crisis.
Together with local Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel, Pascua said the team visited Sinisian Elementary School in Lemery and Pook Elementary School in Agoncillo to “check the status of the buildings and assess how much work is needed to repair them.”
“Ash-covered roads greeted the Inspectorate Team, despite continuous efforts to scrape and clean the streets,” Pascua said. “And the ceiling of one of the schools has collapsed due to earthquakes that are still continuously ravaging the place.
“Nandito ‘yung procurement (service) para mapabilis yung pagbili ng mga materyales sa temporary learning space (The procurement service is here to expedite the purchase of construction materials for the temporary learning spaces).”
He added that the DepEd Central Office is taking “appropriate measures…to ensure that all affected learners can still continue with their education.”
Department of Education (MANILA BULLETIN)
In its Jan. 18 Education Cluster Report, DepEd said the suspension of classes in affected regions such as National Capital Region (NCR), Region III, and Region IV-B has been lifted.
According to news sources, classes were suspended in Batangas on Monday on all levels in public and private schools. In Cavite, classes were suspended on all levels in Tagaytay City, on the elementary level in public schools in Carmona, and on all levels until Tuesday in Alfonso.
Based on DepEd’s latest data, 1, 139, 897 learners in 1,600 schools in 15 divisions under Region IV-A are affected by Taal’s volcanic eruption. The affected divisions include Antipolo, Bacoor City, Batangas, Batangas City, Binan City, Cabuyao, Calamba City, Cavite, Cavite City, Laguna, Lipa City, Quezon, San Pablo City, Sta. Rosa City, and Tanauan City.
Meanwhile, DepEd noted that classes in 11 divisions remain suspended, affecting 1, 159, 648 learners in 1, 598 schools, and 34,053 personnel.
DepEd data also shows that 302 schools in 11 divisions under Region IV-A are being used as evacuation centers. A total of 1, 976 classrooms in these schools are accommodating 13, 916 families or 55, 343 individuals. DepEd said that of this number, 12, 242 are learners.
Inspecting schools in locked-down areas
In an effort to assess the school buildings affected by the Taal crisis, members of the DepEd Executive Committee visited schools in Batangas last week.
In a Facebook post, DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua said that after meeting with key DepEd and local officials in Bolbok, Batangas last Friday, he and Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo, Assistant Secretary Attorney Salvador Malana III, and Director IV Ronilda Co “immediately proceeded to two schools” in Lemery and Agoncillo in Batangas, both on lockdown due to the Taal crisis.
Together with local Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel, Pascua said the team visited Sinisian Elementary School in Lemery and Pook Elementary School in Agoncillo to “check the status of the buildings and assess how much work is needed to repair them.”
“Ash-covered roads greeted the Inspectorate Team, despite continuous efforts to scrape and clean the streets,” Pascua said. “And the ceiling of one of the schools has collapsed due to earthquakes that are still continuously ravaging the place.
“Nandito ‘yung procurement (service) para mapabilis yung pagbili ng mga materyales sa temporary learning space (The procurement service is here to expedite the purchase of construction materials for the temporary learning spaces).”
He added that the DepEd Central Office is taking “appropriate measures…to ensure that all affected learners can still continue with their education.”