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98% of schools opens classes
By Creselda Canda-Lopez
“Opening of classes is OK, but I’m saddened that opening of classes had to be postponed in some areas…but we understand that because rains were still heavy earlier,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara told reporters during his visit to Carmona National High School despite recent widespread damage caused by Typhoon Carina and monsoon, nearly all schools across the country opened their doors to students for beginning of school year 2024-2025.
Angara went to several schools in Calabarzon, one of the areas severely hit by flooding last week, to check situation on the ground as schools reopened.
Angara was initially scheduled to visit Biñan Central Elementary School in Laguna, but classes in the school were suspended due to heavy rain.
Data released showed 841 schools nationwide postponed opening of classes, representing two percent of total number of schools nationwide.
Of the number, 452 are in Central Luzon, 225 in Metro Manila, 95 in Ilocos Region, 66 in Calabarzon and three in Soccsksargen.
Figure represents about 803,824 students.
Total of 20,598,072 students have enrolled for SY 2024-2025.
“Number of schools that deferred opening of classes is small… about two percent of total number in the whole country, so it means about 98 percent of schools opened today,” Angara said.
Many groups have been urging Department of Education and local chief executives to consider week’s postponement to give families more time to address their problems and provide DepEd opportunity to thoroughly prepare.
With hundreds of thousands of students missing classes, Angara said schools that suspended classes may have to conduct make-up classes on weekend to allow students in affected areas to cope with lost classroom instruction time.
“That’s usually what’s done, right…if you miss weekday, weekend will be used to make up,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the education chief said DepEd has access to P2 billion to P3 billion in calamity funds that could be used to repair and rehabilitate damaged classrooms.
DepEd estimated total cost of repairs and rehabilitation of damaged school infrastructure at P630 million.
For its part, Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) urged Angara to address lack of classrooms, facilities, books, water, sanitation and needs of teaching and non-teaching personnel.
“As in the past, our schools will continue to face numerous problems stemming from decades-long neglect…these include lack of classrooms and other facilities, books and other instructional materials, water and sanitation facilities and pressing need for teaching and non-teaching personnel and support staff, these issues come to light particularly at the start of classes, yet teachers and students grapple with negative consequences daily…our teachers’ resilience, patience and perseverance supplement these shortages, exacerbated by various calamities hit country annually,” TDC said.
TDC urged Angara to invest in teachers’ welfare to improve education.
“Ensuring that teachers are satisfied and fulfilled in their chosen profession is essential…our educators should be proud to be public school teachers: motivated, energetic, highly productive, responsible and well-trained… Philippine Constitution mandates adequate remuneration, including just compensation, benefits, incentives and state care, can readily achieve this ideal status, invest in teachers to improve education, and everything else will follow,” TDC said.
Five schools in the City of Manila will reopen classes today, day after scheduled start of new school year.
Opening of classes was delayed by a day at Lakandula Elementary School, Calderon High School, Tondo High School, V. Mapa High School and Cayetano Arellano High School, according to Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan.
Delay “allowed additional time for cleanup due to typhoon’s impact,” she said, referring to torrential rains caused by Carina.
Meanwhile, Lacuna-Pangan and Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto visited Elpidio Quirino High School in Sta. Mesa, as well as the new buildings of Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Tondo and Dr. Albert Elementary School in Sampaloc.
They led distribution of school supplies such as notebooks to pupils of the two elementary schools.
Lacuna-Pangan also appealed to pupils of the two elementary schools to take care of their new school buildings.
In Pampanga, more than 50 public and private schools did not have classes yesterday due to flooding.
Local government of Macabebe and Minalin declared suspension of classes in all levels in both public and private schools due to flooding in the area, according to Pampanga Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).
Nine schools in San Simon town, six in Apalit, six in Sto. Tomas, four in Masantol and one in Bacolor also postponed classes yesterday.
PDRRMC said that as of Sunday, some 1,179 families were still in various evacuation centers and at least 157 barangays in the province are still flooded.
In La Union, 14 of 19 towns suspended opening of classes yesterday due to continuous heavy rains brought by southwest monsoon.
Local officials declared suspension of classes in all levels in both public and private schools as precautionary measure.
Towns that canceled classes were Agoo, Balaoan, Bacnotan, Sudipen, Bauang, San Juan, Bangar, Tubao, Sto. Tomas, Bagulin, Aringay, Caba, Luna and San Gabriel, according to La Union provincial information office.
Total of 63 public elementary and high schools from these municipalities have decided to open classes on Aug. 5.
School officials said cancellation would also ensure readiness and safety of students and teachers.
Approximately 33,286 police personnel have been deployed throughout the country to ensure orderly start of SY 2024-2025, Philippine National Police said.
To address safety concerns and provide immediate assistance, Police Assistance Desks (PADs) will be established in schools, according to PNP.
In addition, extensive foot and mobile patrols will be conducted around school premises to deter criminal activities and ensure prompt responses to any incidents.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil encouraged public to cooperate and report any suspicious activity to nearest PAD or local authorities.
PNP assured public that police force is committed to closely monitoring areas in the country that postponed opening of classes yesterday and providing necessary assistance to affected communities.
In Quezon City, QC Police District (QCPD) deployed at least 886 cops and 757 force multipliers as new school year started yesterday.
Among 757 force multipliers are barangay peacekeeping action teams, barangay tanods, traffic enforcers and security guards who have been deployed to schools across the city, according to QCPD.
About 117 PADs will be established to enhance response capabilities.
Quezon City reported 143 schools opened their classes yesterday, while 15 schools will deferred their opening due to flooding experienced in Metro Manila last July 24.
QCPD said initiative aims to provide visible police presence in educational institutions, transportation hubs and areas of convergence.
It focuses on preventing and addressing crime incidents may impact students, teachers and parents.
QCPD director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan assured public that every school in Quezon City would open their classes safely.
Maranan stressed Oplan Balik-Eskwela would not only look after schools, but also help schools affected by Carina in their recovery.
In Central Luzon, some 1,000 policemen were deployed in various public and private schools across the region during opening of classes yesterday.
Central Luzon Police director Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr. said deployment of policemen would provide utmost assistance among students, particularly public safety and police visibility in schools, colleges, universities and nearby areas that are most likely to be chosen targets of criminal elements.
Hidalgo stressed guidelines had been established in accordance with “Ligtas Balik-Eskwela 2024,” directive from the national headquarters that is conducted annually.
PADs, manned by a team with police commissioned officer as its leader, will be established in schools and other learning institutions to pre-empt problems and respond for any eventuality.
“I instructed all field officers in the region to personally visit different schools and coordinate with school officials in order to deter lawless elements from doing illegal activities such as hold-up, pickpocketing, snatching, drug pushing and even kidnapping of hapless students,” Hidalgo said.
Additionally, police are working hand in hand with traffic auxiliaries in traffic control.
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