The Department of Education (DepEd) said on Monday that the five-day face-to-face lessons have resumed in 97.5% of public schools nationwide.
According to DepEd spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa, 2.36% of public schools have so far been given permission to use blended learning. Severe Tropical Storm Paeng’s onslaught, he noted, had a negative impact on some of these schools (international name: Nalgae).
Except for those who received exemptions, all public schools are required to resume full-time in-person instruction as of November 2.
On the other hand, private institutions are still allowed to provide five-day in-person classes, a mixed learning format, or full distance learning.
“Nakita naman po natin na naging maayos naman po ang pagre-resume natin ng classes. Wala naman tayong major incidents, although siyempre meron pa rin tayong affected schools dahil sa Typhoon Paeng,” Poa said.
(We observed that the start of lessons proceeded smoothly. Although Typhoon Paeng still has an impact on our schools, there are no significant events.)
Severe Tropical Storm Paeng caused infrastructure damage to at least 324 schools.
Additionally, 435 schools were still being used as evacuation hubs nationally. DepEd is currently working with the local government entities to have these schools relocated as soon as possible, according to Poa.
DepEd: 97.5% of public schools back to F2F classes
“Nakapag-download naman tayo ng [we have downloaded] cleanup funds, as well as funds for the necessary TLS (temporary learning spaces) that we have to put up in these areas,” he said.
108,791 displaced persons, or 27,001 families, are now being cared for by 951 evacuation centers, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), while 920,586 people, or 326,456 families, are staying elsewhere.
Additionally, the estimated cost of Paeng’s infrastructure damage in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 4-B, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, and the Cordillera Administrative Region has reached P4,512,696,137.88 (CAR).
156 people have died as a result of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, according to officials in charge of disaster relief.
121 verified fatalities, 141 reported injuries, and 37 reported missing were all reported by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Sunday.
The Muslim Mindanao region’s Bangsamoro Autonomous Region had the highest fatalities (63), followed by Calabarzon (34) and Western Visayas (33).
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