730 schools damaged in Kristine onslaught

MANILA, Philippines — Damage to public schools nationwide have risen to over P2 billion after the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, which left nearly a thousand elementary and high school facilities needing rebuilding or repairs.

Data from the Department of Education (DepEd) showed that as of yesterday, 730 schools were damaged from flooding and 34 schools, mostly in the Bicol Region, were hit by landslides.

The number represents 863 wrecked classrooms needing reconstruction worth P2.1 billion and 1,026 classrooms that require major repairs worth P513 million.

Schools also lost 381,551 learning materials including computers and books and 17,575 school furniture, such as desks, appliances and chairs.

Overall, the DepEd said nearly 43,000 schools and offices were exposed to the tropical storm, meaning they are within areas where authorities had issued warnings against flooding, heavy rainfall, storm signals and a call for pre-disaster risk assessment.

DepEd said about 21.4 million students and nearly 900,000 teachers and school workers were within these areas.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara earlier said DepEd has access to P2 billion to P3 billion for calamity funds that could be used to repair and rehabilitate damaged classrooms.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Kristine caused P1.69 billion worth of damage to agriculture, which equates to about 108,226 metric tons in production volume loss.

The rice sector bore the brunt of the damage, accounting for 95.15 percent, with losses pegged at P1.61 billion. The is followed by high value crops, which sustained P63.51 million in losses and corn, P8.57 million.

According to the DA, damage to agricultural infrastructure was at P3.24 million. It added that at least 2,821 heads of livestock and poultry were affected.

The DA said that it is giving interventions to farmers, including the release of P531.72 million worth of agricultural inputs and the distribution of rice stocks from the National Food Authority for relief distribution.

The agency also opened its P1-billion quick response fund for the rehabilitation and recovery of affected areas, aside from the P500-million Survival and Recovery Loan