It may take a while for distance learning to resume in Catanduanes after several schools and learning materials were left totally damaged by super Typhoon Rolly.
Aside from damaged buildings, computers, laptops, projectors, modules, and other learning materials were flooded at the Buyo Integrated School. Teachers have been trying to save what was left by the typhoon, including materials that were supposed to benefit 200 students from Grades 7 to 10.
“Kasi umabot ‘yung tubig lampas tao eh. Kung nabasa lang sana pwede pang ma-save, kaso may mga putik. Kaya hayun po, nagka-problema kami (Floodwater was above head level. We could have saved the materials if they were only got wet, but they got muddy. That is the problem),” Teacher Grace Camano explained.
“Mayroon pa po kaya tina-try namin i-save kasi ‘yung mga gamit namin ipinatong na namin sa lamesa, ipinatong pa sa isang lamesa, kaso bumigay kasi baha kasi talaga (There are other materials we are trying to save which we placed on stacked tables that eventually collapsed due to flood),” Teacher Vernie Oliveros shared.
The new learning modality has gone back to zero due to the typhoon. The teachers shared that the roofs of their own houses were also shattered but there are more schools in the province which sustained heavier damages. They are now appealing to the DepEd for support amid the current situation.
“Magsisimula sa simula, pero kaya ‘yan. Kaya namin ‘yan. Ganiyan kaming mga taga-Catanduanes. Sa simula mahirap, pero kakayanin namin. Nasanay na rin naman kami sa mga bagyo (We will start from scratch, but we can do it. That is how we are in Catanduanes. It will be hard at the onset, but we will try. We have gotten used to typhoons),” Camano continued. – Report from Ryan Lesigues
