(PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) said Wednesday that around 8,027 schools in seven regions in the country were affected following the magnitude 7 earthquake that hit Luzon.
An initial report from the DepEd showed that 35 schools in 15 school division offices from Luzon sustained infrastructure damage.
According to the initial Rapid Assessment of Damages Report (RADaR) of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS), 11 schools from Region III (Central Luzon) were damaged, nine from Region II (Cagayan Valley), eight from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR ), and seven schools from Region I (Ilocos Region).
The DRRMS' report revealed that the initial estimated cost for the earthquake's reconstruction and rehabilitation of the damaged schools is at PHP228.5 million.
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte ordered Wednesday the activation of the Education Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) teams to provide an immediate response to affected schools following the magnitude 7 earthquake, the epicenter of which was traced in Abra.
“Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte has already activated [the DRRM] to monitor and respond to the situation, including the provision of Psychological First Aid to affected personnel and learners,” the DepEd said.
The Education chief also said that classes in schools from “heavily affected” areas are now suspended. (PNA)
