Flood damages 135 classrooms in Eastern Samar

By NINFA QUIRANTE, PIA Borongan
January 29, 2011

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar  –  The Department of Education in Eastern Samar reported that the recent calamity that struck the province has caused P29.5 M in damages to books, school buildings, and instructional materials.

In a consultation with specialists from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), DepEd revealed that 135 classrooms were damaged because of the rains.

The department is currently looking for means to rehabilitate the classrooms and also looking for ways to integrate disaster preparedness to the children’s curriculum.

Because of the calamity, classes were interrupted in several areas in the province especially in the northern part. Classes for more than 18,000 students were cancelled because of the heavy rains.

Especially in the towns of Maslog, Jipapad, Can-avid and Arteche, classes were suspended for as long as five days. DepEd Education Program Supervisor Mary Moscare, however, confirmed today that classes have resumed in these areas.

Because weather reports warn against more rains in the coming months, the department plans to integrate disaster preparedness in the school curricula.

According to Moscare, Science and Araling Panlipunan will soon include lectures on how children can prepare in cases of calamities.