Edson C. Tandoc Jr. of Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Education is considering an emergency purchase to address a looming text book shortage in many public schools damaged by tropical storms Ondoy (international codename: Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma).
Ondoy and Pepeng damaged more than 11 million copies of text books in six regions worth more than P739 million, the department said in a report.
The Instructional Materials Council Secretariat has 467,676 spare but the number is puny in comparison to the number of books that were lost to the floods and need to be replaced, said Socorro Pilor, the secretariat’s director.
In a press conference on Friday afternoon, Education Undersecretary Ramon Bacani said replacement of text books started in Marikina City last week. Deliveries are ongoing in Pasig City and Caloocan City.
Deliveries in other affected areas in the metropolis will be completed by November 6, he added.
Bacani admitted the student-text book ratio would likely deteriorate. But Pilor said some book publishers have already donated some text books while learning
modules were also being distributed in place of text books for the meantime.
The department buys new books every year, but the annual purchase is only for one subject for all levels. The books lost to the typhoons cover different subjects, so waiting for the scheduled purchase next year will not address the shortage.
Schools in Metro Manila lost some 2.68 million text books while schools in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon lost 2.44 million. Some 2.4 million text books were damaged in the Ilocos Region during Typhoon Pepeng.
Ondoy damaged some P547 million worth of school buildings while Pepeng damaged some P549 million worth of classrooms, Bacani also reported.
He added that many school buildings damaged by typhoons which hit the country last year also remained unrepaired. These will cost more than P293 million.
The DepEd has allocated for building repairs at least P115 million, the only amount remaining from its P600 million quick-response fund for this year.
It is also asking private groups to join its adopt-a-school program, Bacani said.
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Education was severely affected by typhoon Ondoy. Not only books and school materials were affected, but of course the amount of time taken from the students...I saw kids who were so excited to go back to school not only to see and play with their classmates, but actually excited to study again!
Typhoon Ondoy made, not only adults, but children very depressed to see their own school materials devastated by typhoon Ondoy [and Pepeng]. But again, let's look and focus at the bright side! We still see people from different places continuously offering help! Again, even people who were also victims themselves! Also, private groups and organizations all over the world who have had helped and continuously giving help, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
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