DepEd Strengthens Disaster Response for Resilient Education

In response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for strengthened disaster preparedness in the education sector, the Department of Education (DepEd) is launching initiatives to enhance school infrastructure, secure additional funding, and implement policies for learning continuity during emergencies.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized DepEd’s commitment to constructing disaster-resilient school buildings, particularly in typhoon-prone areas, so that Filipino learners have safe and sustainable learning spaces.

“Our facilities must have structural integrity to withstand stronger typhoons and earthquakes,” Angara said, underscoring the urgency of this initiative.

DepEd Resilient Education
Credits: DepEd

Public-Private Partnerships to Address Classroom Shortages

To accelerate school infrastructure development, DepEd has partnered with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center to construct 15,000 classrooms across 1,600 schools in nine regions starting this year. This collaboration is expected to alleviate classroom shortages and improve overall learning environments for students nationwide.

Additionally, DepEd is prioritizing the construction of disaster-resilient buildings, as demonstrated by the groundbreaking of the country’s first 12-story public school building in Cebu, designed to endure extreme weather conditions.

Urgent Need for More Quick Response Funds

Secretary Angara also stressed the need to increase DepEd’s Quick Response Fund (QRF), which is used for emergency school repairs and reconstructions following calamities.

“Our current Quick Response Fund is simply not enough to address the scale of destruction we face each year,” he said.

In 2024 alone, 1,855 schools were affected by various disasters, requiring ₱6.6 billion for repairs and ₱6.3 billion to replace damaged classrooms. Despite an increase in the QRF to ₱3 billion annually, the fund remains insufficient to cover widespread damages.

The Education Commission II’s Year 2 report highlighted that the lack of sufficient QRF hampers the agency’s ability to respond swiftly to school infrastructure damage.

Permanent Evacuation Centers to Protect Schools

DepEd welcomed the signing of Republic Act No. 12076, also known as the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which mandates the construction of permanent evacuation centers to prevent schools from being used as temporary shelters during disasters.

This measure aims to preserve school facilities, so that they remain functional for educational purposes even in the aftermath of emergencies.

Ensuring Learning Continuity Amid Disasters

To minimize disruptions caused by calamities, DepEd is reinforcing DepEd Order No. 22, s. 2024, which establishes Revised Guidelines on Class and Work Suspension in Schools During Disasters and Emergencies.

Schools are required to develop a Learning and Service Continuity Plan, incorporating Alternative Delivery Modalities (ADMs) such as online learning and modular instruction to maintain education access during class suspensions.

A Commitment to Resilient Education

With an increasing frequency of natural disasters, DepEd remains committed to providing safe learning spaces, securing sufficient funding, and implementing adaptive learning strategies to make certain Filipino students receive uninterrupted education.

Through PPP investments, increased emergency funding, and policy reinforcements, the education sector is set to become more resilient, so that every learner has the opportunity to thrive despite environmental challenges.

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