Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced a significant advancement in its disaster preparedness measures through the launch of the PlanSmart for Safe Schools platform and a comprehensive safety guidebook. This initiative is a response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s call to enhance disaster resilience and preparedness in the nation's public schools.
According to Philippines News Agency, the PlanSmart for Safe Schools is a web-based application designed to integrate hazard and risk data from the GeoRiskPH system. This platform will enable schools to create contingency plans that comply with standards established by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Training sessions for school leaders and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) coordinators are scheduled for 3,012 schools in Metro Manila this November, preceding a nationwide rollout.
Developed with support from the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-Phivolcs) and the World Bank, this digital tool is a step forward in ensuring schools are equipped to protect students and continue education before, during, and after any calamity. Additionally, DepEd has introduced the Pillar 1: Safer Learning Facilities Guidebook in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Good Neighbors International Philippines. This guidebook will assist schools in adopting inclusive, climate-resilient, and child-safe construction standards.
In another move to ensure learning continuity, DepEd unveiled the Upgraded Temporary Learning Spaces (UTLS) project, aimed at enhancing modular classrooms in areas affected by disasters. DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the importance of preparedness, stating that adequate tools, training, and facilities are essential for maintaining educational activities even amidst disasters.
Furthermore, DepEd is set to pilot the M7X School Ready Program in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon. This program seeks to improve the readiness of public schools and DepEd offices against a potential magnitude 7.2 earthquake, addressing the looming threat from the West Valley Fault. Schools that meet the structural and non-structural preparedness criteria will be awarded an M7.2 Ready School Seal.
