By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the opening of classes in public schools will push through as planned but the decision to postpone for areas hit-hard by Super Typhoon Carina would depend on school authorities.
In a chance interview during his site visit in the storm-stricken Rizal on Friday, Marcos instructed the Department of Education (DepEd) to do everything that it can to resume classes on July 29.
“As much as possible. Hangga’t maaari. If the school buildings are in a condition to take classes, they will do it,” he said.
“It will be up to the school to decide kung kaya o hindi. Siguro ‘yong iba mapipilitan, they will conduct classes outside of the school building, makapagklase lang. Tingnan natin,” he said.
Several schools have either been damaged or used as makeshift abodes for residents living in low-lying areas as the southwest monsoon intensified by Typhoon Carina unleashed heavy rains and triggered massive floods in various parts of the country on Wednesday.
Based on the latest government data, around 90 schools in nine regions including Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas were affected by the calamity.
Around 324 schools are also being used as evacuation centers in six regions.
Marikina defers school opening to Aug. 5
Meanwhile, Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro postponed the opening of classes at all levels in both public and private schools by another week.
In a radio interview Friday, Teodoro said classes in the city will start on August 5 to enable learners, teachers, and parents to fully prepare for the new school year and for them to recover from the damage caused by floods.
He said he made the decision after consulting with the city’s Schools Division Office and various stakeholders.
“Nakita rin natin maraming estudyante handa na yung mga gamit, nalubog sa tubig-baha at putik, napakasakit. Kanina, meron akong nakausap na magulang [na] umiiyak, akala ko [kung] ano [ang] dahilan. Hindi niya malaman kung saan siya kukuha ng pambili ng gamit ng anak niya sa eskuwelahan,” he said.
Non-stop monsoon rains enhanced by Typhoon Carina drenched Metro Manila and nearby provinces on Wednesday, which also raised Marikina River’s water level to a peak of 20.7 meters, resulting in the forced evacuation of residents in the city’s low-lying areas. (with report from Lloyd Caliwan)