DepEd: Repair of 1,000 cyclone-hit schools to be completed by yearend

The Department of Education (DepEd) assured the public there are enough funds to repair some 1,000 schools damaged by cyclones before the end of 2011. DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said the DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office had estimated the cost of repair at P341.3 million. “While no actual major repair has been completed, we have started the bidding process while awaiting downloading of funds and we are confident that all repairs will be finished by the end of the year," Luistro said. Seven regions were heavily affected by typhoons "Pedring" (Nesat) and "Quiel" (Nalgae): Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central and Southern Luzon, Bicol, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and Metro Manila. “All minor repairs have been completed at this time. Our school officials charged minor repairs against their respective school’s maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and School Based Repair and Maintenance (SBM) funds. We also received assistance from parents-teachers associations (PTAs), non-government organizations (NGOs), and local government units (LGUs) in the affected areas," said Luistro. Of the P341.3 million fund for the school repairs, nine percent (or P31.9 million) involves minor damages, the repairs of which have all been completed. Also accounted for is some P4.3 million (one percent) in damaged textbooks, information and communication technology (ICT) equipment, and furniture. Major damages amounting to P305.2 million (90 percent) are all covered with budget allocations. The funding sources include: