The Santa Teresita National High School in Cagayan province was one of the schools damaged by Supertyphoon Goring in 2023. (PHOTO FROM DepEd Cagayan)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Tuesday called for an increase in the Department of Education鈥檚 (DepEd) quick response fund (QRF) for the immediate repair and rehabilitation of damaged school buildings.
In a statement, Angara cited the report of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom 2), an agency tasked to assess and evaluate the performance of the Philippine education sector, on the lack of the agency鈥檚 QRF.
鈥淥ur current Quick Response Fund is simply not enough to address the scale of destruction we face each year. If we want to rebuild quickly and effectively, we need more resources,鈥� Angara said.聽
Edcom 2鈥檚 Year 2 report states that DepEd鈥檚 disaster funds 鈥渁re insufficient and constrained by procedural limitations, hampering proactive disaster preparedness and effective response reports.鈥�
QRF is a standby fund that agencies can use to assist calamity-stricken areas. The DepEd is one of the five agencies allocated a QRF.聽
The Edcom 2鈥檚 report said that as the Philippines ranks as the most disaster-prone country, the 鈥淒epEd still faces annual losses of Php 17.98 billion due to high hazard exposure鈥� even when all school buildings are in 鈥渙ptimal condition.鈥�
The DepEd also noted that 1,855 schools were affected by various calamities in 2024, resulting in P6.6 billion in classroom repairs and rehabilitation.
It added that while the agency鈥檚 QRF has been increased to P3 billion, the fund remains 鈥渋nsufficient to meet these demands.鈥�
The Edcom 2 likewise recommended that 鈥淸t]o address climate-related challenges to school infrastructure, education policymakers must prioritize building climate-resilient structures and designing innovative learning solutions.鈥�
Further, Angara said that the agency will focus on constructing calamity-resilient school buildings.
The DepEd also announced that building 15,000 classrooms, in agreement with a public-private partnership, will benefit 1,600 schools across nine regions.
鈥淭ututukan natin ang pagpapatayo ng mga disaster-resilient facilities sa ating schools, lalo na sa mga lubhang naapektuhan ng mga bagyo noong nakaraang taon. Our facilities must have structural integrity to withstand stronger typhoons and earthquakes,鈥� Angara underscored.聽
(We will focus on constructing disaster-resilient facilities in our schools, especially the calamity-stricken areas last year.)
Education officials recently led a groundbreaking ceremony for the 12-story medium-rise public school building at the Don Vicente Rama National High School in Cebu City.聽
The school building, according to DepEd, is designed 鈥渢o withstand natural disasters鈥� and houses 42 classrooms, nine workshops, an audiovisual room, a library, a clinic, and fully equipped laboratories.
It added that it will accommodate 2,000 students in one shift.