MANILA, Philippines — Even before it made landfall, more than seven million students across the country had already been affected by Typhoon Ompong (international name Mangkhut), according to the Department of Education (DepEd).
Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the affected students are those located in 11 regions where classes have been suspended, placed under storm warning signals or in areas where the schools were used as evacuation centers.
Classes have been suspended since Wednesday in some areas in anticipation of the typhoon.
In Ilocos Norte, four schools have been used as evacuation centers for more than 50 families.
“We are bracing for a powerful typhoon and the need to ensure that our educators, learners, personnel are prepared and safe is just as important as the need to ensure that education continues no matter what,” Briones said.
“We have mobilized disaster risk reduction and management service at our field offices to make sure that all the efforts for preparedness are in place and that damage will be minimal,” she added.
According to DepEd, the affected regions as of yesterday include Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13, the Cordillera Administrative Region and Metro Manila.
The agency said it has ensured availability of funds for temporary learning spaces, clean-up and minor repair, hygiene kits, learners’ kits, teachers’ kits and emergency school feeding.
It also has resources such as learning materials on standby for immediate deployment.