Manila: Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday urged the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGUs) to ensure the timely repair and replacement of classrooms damaged by recent monsoon rains and typhoons that hit the country in the last two weeks. In a statement, Gatchalian emphasized the necessity of immediate repairs for the safe resumption of classes in affected areas.

According to Philippines News Agency, the combined effects of two tropical cyclones and the enhanced southwest monsoon have resulted in damage to 6,681 classrooms as of August 14. Gatchalian stressed the importance of addressing these damages promptly, stating, "Whenever the country recovers from a calamity, damaged classrooms must be immediately repaired or replaced so learners won't be in danger from unrepaired facilities." He further warned that failure to address these issues could exacerbate the shortage of facilities for basic education.

Data from DepEd indicates that, as of July last year, there was a classroom backlog of 147,000. In the 2026 national budget, a PHP67.9 billion allocation has been set aside for basic education facilities, which includes the replacement of school buildings.

Additionally, the DepEd has recently announced a plan to allocate PHP34.355 million for cleanup and clearing operations in 1,195 affected schools. Furthermore, PHP201.59 million is earmarked for minor repairs in 4,114 classrooms.