More than 6.7 million students have been affected by class suspensions due to the effects of the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, and tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).
In its latest situation report, DepEd said that a total of 6,756,868 learners, along with 298,398 personnel, were affected by the suspension of in-person classes across 10,671 public schools in 63 schools divisions across eight regions in the country, but mostly in Luzon, as reported by RH Edniel Parrosa.
Based on the latest monitoring of the DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS), it has monitored 4,772 schools affected by the recent weather disturbances, including schools that had already sustained damage from previous calamities.
Of these, 917 schools were reported to have been completely destroyed, while 1,003 schools were affected by the severe weather conditions.
A total of 2,872 classrooms also sustained minor damage, with most of the affected facilities located in the Ilocos Region, followed by Central Luzon, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), CALABARZON, Eastern Visayas, MIMAROPA, the Negros Island Region, and Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, 387 classrooms are currently being used as evacuation centers, along with 107 schools, as displaced families seek temporary shelter.
DepEd said more than 2,065 families are currently staying in evacuation centers in CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, Eastern and Central Visayas, MIMAROPA, and the CAR.
