Baguio city: The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday expressed its deepest sympathies after the death of five learners due to a landslide in Baguio City. These include elementary, junior high, and Alternative Learning System (ALS) learners who lost their lives in the landslide during the continuous rains at Barangay Guisad Surong.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DepEd extended its condolences to the bereaved families and friends of the victims. In a statement, the agency said, "With deep sorrow, we mourn the young lives lost: two Grade 7 learners from Guisad Valley National High School; one Grade 3 learner and one Grade 4 learner from Bonifacio Elementary School; and one learner under the Alternative Learning System (ALS)." The department also called on the education community to keep the families, victims, and the Cordillera region in their prayers.
The agency has assured a full assessment of the damage to school structures to uphold the safety of learners, teaching, and non-teaching personnel nationwide. "We are also assessing damaged school infrastructure, focusing on slope protection to ensure campus safety," it stated. As of 8 a.m., the DepEd-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) reported that the number of schools with reported damage has climbed to 961, with 32 affected by rain-induced landslides.
Based on rapid damage assessments, a total of 961 schools have reported damages, including 3,297 minor, 1,135 major, and 1,093 totally damaged classrooms. The DepEd requires approximately PHP188.551 million in funds for the cleanup and repair of damaged classrooms. Specifically, PHP26.998 million will fund cleanup and clearing operations across 961 schools, while PHP161.553 million will cover minor repairs for 3,297 classrooms.
"As rains persist, class suspensions remain in place while DepEd field offices coordinate with local government units and disaster response agencies to protect our learners and personnel," the DepEd stated. As of Tuesday, 6,512,872 learners and 284,725 DepEd personnel are affected by the in-person class suspension in 9,890 public schools across eight regions. The majority of these suspensions are in Central Luzon, followed by Ilocos, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, and Western Visayas.
On Monday, the DepEd also activated its Education in Emergencies framework through its 4H protocol amid the suspension of in-person classes. The protocol, which includes "Hinto, Hinga, Hinay, and Hayo," seeks to ensure learning delivery while upholding learners' safety and readiness.
