Reinstatement of DepEd’s quick response fund sought

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) has sought the reinstatement of its quick response fund (QRF) to fast-track the repair of school buildings damaged by typhoons and other disasters.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones recommended the return of the allocation during a Cabinet meeting last week, which was held in the aftermath of the devastation wreaked by Typhoon Nina in Bicol and Southern Tagalog during the Christmas season.

The education department said the quick response fund was removed in the 2017 budget, and that the P1-billion allocation last year has already been utilized.

During the previous administration, several agencies including DepEd have received a disaster relief fund that was separate from the funding allocation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

In addition to the removal of the QRF, the present administration also slashed the NDRRMC fund from P38.9 billion last year to P15.7 billion this year.

The QRF serves as standby fund to be used for the replacement, reconstruction, rehabilitation or repair of school buildings and facilities following calamities, epidemics and crises.

DepEd data showed that 1,046 school have reported infrastructure damage in the aftermath of Nina.

Some 1,548 classrooms were destroyed while another 3,797 were damaged.

More than 63,200 units of school furniture, 386,689 units of learning resources and 383 computers were also damaged.

Schools were also reportedly affected in the recent flashfloods in Cagayan de Oro and nearby provinces.