Shear line rains, floods damage 36 schools in Mindanao: DepEd

FILE: Department of Education (DepEd) spokesperson Michael Poa. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) assured Monday it would assist all affected schools in Mindanao following the flooding due to shear line-induced torrential rains.

In a Viber message, DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said at least 36 schools – 25 from Northern Mindanao, 10 in Caraga Administrative Region, and one in Zamboanga Peninsula – reported damage to their structures.

Poa said PHP363.5 million worth of recovery funds are needed to repair the 36 affected schools.

Also, Poa reported that eight learners sustained injuries while 2,548 were displaced.

He said the department would provide response interventions to affected students and personnel.

The DepEd, meanwhile, said the number of schools used as evacuation centers has increased. Poa, however, could not provide complete figures yet as they are still awaiting reports from the field.

“The schools being used as ECs (evacuation centers) have increased due to continuous rains and flooding experienced in some areas,” Poa said.

“For Caraga, the number of schools currently being used as ECs as of today is 86. We will probably have a clearer picture in a couple of days,” he said.