Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14) — Vice President Sara Duterte, who heads the Department of Education (DepEd), said schools damaged by Typhoon Egay would “immediately” implement blended learning if repairs are not yet completed by August 29.
“Wala na pong learning disruption ang direction ng Department of Education. Lagi pong blended learning or in-person classes. Tuloy-tuloy ang pag-aaral kahit may problema sa classroom,” she said on Monday when she and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited a high school in Manila to inspect Brigada Eskwela activities.
[Translation: The direction of the Department of Education is to no longer have learning disruption, it’s either blended learning or in-person classes. Classes will continue despite a problem in classrooms.]
Duterte said DepEd’s budget for repairs prioritizes those schools hit by Typhoon Egay, which ravaged parts of the Philippines last July.
Meanwhile, Marcos said renovation efforts are ongoing in some schools. He noted that they are closely working with local government units to speed up the repairs.
The government earlier said that a total of 169 schools, including more than 500 classrooms, were damaged by the weather disturbance in Cordillera Administrative Region, Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas, and Bicol Region.
READ: Prompt renovation of schools damaged by Egay, habagat sought
Public schools in the country will open academic year 2023-2024 on August 29.
