TACLOBAN CITY– About 647 classrooms were damaged in the three provinces of Samar due to the incessant rains spawned by low pressure and shearline that struck the island last week.
The calamity also resulted in the displacement of more than 137,000 students.
Of the three provinces, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar, the latter posted the biggest damage, a report from the regional office of the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Tuesday (Nov. 28).
In Northern Samar, which bore the brunt of the massive flooding that also resulted in some landslide incidents, 587 classrooms were damaged of which 43 were classified as totally damaged.
In Eastern Samar, 44 classrooms were also damaged due to the flooding incident while 16 classrooms were reported damaged in Samar province of which five were considered as totally damaged.
Also that went underwater were 42,798 school equipment and books, the DepEd said in its report, covering the three Samar provinces.
Northern Samar reported of 42,329 damaged equipment which includes armchairs, computers, and textbooks. The province of Samar reported 417 damaged school equipment while Eastern Samar reported of 52 school equipment that were damaged.
About 127,223 students were affected in Northern Samar due to the massive while in Eastern Samar, 10,273 students were also temporarily displaced.
No student was reported to have died or injured due to the flooding incident across Samar Island.
Jasmin Francisco Calzita, DepEd regional information officer, said that classes in the three provinces have already resumed.
“Regular classes have already resumed but those still underwater were advised to implement blended learning,” she said.
At least 56 schools across Samar Island were also utilized as evacuation centers for the displaced families: 38 in Northern Samar,17 in Samar, and one in Eastern Samar.
Meantime, the Eastern Samar schools division, headed by Gorgonio Diaz, Jr., received donations from their counterparts in Southern Leyte involving P94,000 cash and used clothings, and food packs.
The donation would be distributed to the students and school personnel who were affected by the massive flooding.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
