DepEd calls for donations for Albay learners affected by restive Mt. Mayon

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MANILA — As Alert Level 3 has been raised for Mt. Mayon in Albay, the Department of Education (DepEd) calls for donations such as additional tents, tarpaulins, chairs, and learners’ kits for the affected learners in the province.

Around 10,000 learners’ kits have been received to date by DepEd which is currently arranging for their transport and deployment to affected schools.

Apart from donations, the DepEd has downloaded Php23 million in funds to procure chairs and create temporary learning spaces (TLS) for schools used as evacuation centers.

Around 15,000 chairs will be procured and 300 TLS will be created for 52,800 learners who have been affected by Mayon Volcano’s restiveness during the past weeks.

Schools affected by the said incident have reached 77 as of Sept. 26. About 38 schools have been declared as within the permanent danger zone while 39 schools are being used as evacuation centers.

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has initially provided support with 175 tents and 400 tarps to serve as TLS so as to alleviate congestion in schools being used as evacuation centers.

Out of the 724 public schools in four DepEd divisions of Albay, Ligao, Tabaco and Legazpi, 649 did not suspend classes following the declaration of Alert Level 3 while 711 of them already resumed classes as of Sept. 25.

Classes for the remaining 13 schools are expected to be resumed as soon as the necessary infrastructural and non-infrastructural interventions are in place.

According to DepEd, its division officials and school personnel are working closely with local government officials and education partners to monitor and supervise the relief operations and ensure the continuous delivery of basic education to affected learners in Albay.

The following are the drop-off points where donors may channel their donations: DepEd Region 5, Regional Center, Rawis, Legazpi City; and DepEd Central Office, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.

Cash donations may be coursed through the DepEd’s Landbank account name: DECS OSEC TRUST with Account No. 0672-1000-20.

For inquiries, interested parties may contact the following: Office of the Undersecretary for Partnerships and External Linkages at 633-7207/637-4211; Adopt-a-School Program Secretariat at 638-8637/39; and Region V-ASP Coordinator at 052-482-0369/052-482-0310.