By Brian Campued
The Department of Education (DepEd) is expediting the installation of Learning Continuity Spaces (LCS) in disaster-prone areas as part of the agency’s rapid, cost-efficient solutions to address classroom backlogs in schools needing the most urgent infrastructure.
This, as DepEd turned over newly completed prefab units over to Kalawakan Elementary School in Bulacan, Buli Elementary School in Quezon Province, Loon North High School in Bohol, Magwawa Integrated School in Davao del Norte, and Doroteo Elementary School in Davao de Oro.
In a statement Friday, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the disaster-resilient LCS is part of their response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to prevent learning loss and class disruptions whenever calamities occur.
“Malinaw ang direktiba sa atin ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na tiyaking walang maiiwang mag-aaral, kaya itong Learning Continuity Spaces ang mabilis nating tugon para hindi maputol ang kanilang klase tuwing may kalamidad,” Angara said.
With a budget of P3.5 billion, DepEd targets to deploy at least 1,622 prefab units across the country, with 159 LCS units scheduled for completion in July.
Additionally, 505 units are undergoing various stages of the procurement pipeline, which includes 462 sites under active procurement and 43 projects already approved and awaiting their Notice to Proceed.
“Sa tulong ng mga makabagong prefab classrooms na ito, mas mabilis nating nalalagpasan ang mga karaniwang delay sa construction habang pinapanatili ang mataas na kalidad at ligtas na espasyo para sa ating mga mag-aaral,” Angara said.
As part of its broader classroom construction strategy, DepEd has also partnered with 109 local government units to date and has pursued Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives for the construction of 3,100 classrooms under the PPP School Infrastructure Program.
Well-being support to quake-hit schools in Soccsksargen
Meanwhile, DepEd said it would provide 109 LCS units to areas affected by the powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake in southern Mindanao last June 8 while damaged classrooms undergo repairs.
Based on DepEd monitoring as of June 16, a total of 1,396 schools reported damaged classrooms, including 1,950 totally damaged classrooms, 2,098 classrooms with major damage, and 6,065 classrooms with minor damage.
To support safe recovery, DepEd is conducting structural safety inspections with local government units, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and local engineering offices.
In General Santos City alone, about 115 of 119 schools had been inspected as of June 15, with 76 schools cleared for occupancy.
Angara assured that P352.3 million has been allocated for cleanup, clearing operations, and minor repairs.
The agency has also mobilized 671 mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) facilitators as part of its earthquake response, while 2,972 DepEd personnel have been trained on MHPSS, including Psychosocial First Aid to help learners cope with the trauma caused by the disaster.
Learner and teacher well-being checks, Kumustahan sessions, Psychosocial First Aid, and other support activities are also ongoing in affected schools.
DepEd also recorded 2,342 schools with active class suspensions and 6,748 schools that had already resumed classes, subject to local safety conditions and advisories.
Under the Learning Continuity in Emergencies framework, schools in Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacurong, and Sultan Kudarat have transitioned to “Hayo” as of June 15—which means learning activities may resume when stakeholders are deemed safe.
Meanwhile, schools in General Santos City and Sarangani remain under “Hinto,” or the temporary suspension of academic learning, pending further advisories from local government units and amid ongoing recovery efforts.
“Gusto nating makabalik ang mga bata sa pag-aaral, pero hindi natin puwedeng madaliin kung hindi pa ligtas ang classroom o kung hindi pa handa ang learners at teachers,” Angara said,
“Ang trabaho natin sa ilalim ng Bagong Pilipinas ng administrasyong Marcos ay siguraduhin na may malinaw na gabay, may ligtas na learning space, at may sapat na psychosocial support habang unti-unting bumabalik ang normal na operasyon ng schools.”
According to DepEd’s data as of June 16, the earthquake has affected 142,821 learners and 7,406 personnel across Region 12, with 39 Schools Division Offices coordinating response efforts.
-jpv
