Over 2,400 classrooms across various regions sustained damage following recent southwest monsoon (habagat) rains, prompting the Department of Education (DepEd) to fast-track cleanup and restoration efforts in coordination with other government agencies.
Data from the DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) as of August 9 revealed that 2,424 classrooms were affected, including 403 categorized as totally damaged, 505 with major damage, and 1,516 with minor damage.
Regional and division officials are currently validating site assessments to pinpoint priority locations for immediate response teams.
To accelerate school recovery, DepEd is expanding its collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through the 2026 Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD)-Brigada Eskwela convergence initiative, which serves as an emergency labor mechanism for campus restoration.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara expressed gratitude to DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino and Executive Secretary Ralph Recto of the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) for providing crucial manpower and logistical backup.
Prior to the monsoon damage, DOLE had already financed the deployment of 168,517 temporary workers to 9,186 public schools nationwide, allocating ₱1.07 billion in financial support to assist with school opening preparations.
Angara highlighted the necessity of DOLE’s emergency labor assistance to minimize learning disruptions for students.
”Ngayong hinaharap natin ang pinsala ng habagat, muli tayong nagpapasalamat sa DOLE sa kanilang mabilis na pagtugon,” he said.
”Sa tulong ng ating emergency labor augmentation, mas mabilis nating malilinis at maipapaayos ang ating mga silid-aralan upang maiwasan ang anumang abala sa pag-aaral ng ating mga kabataan,” he went on.