THE Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu Provincial Office has tapped its calamity funds to help teachers in northern Cebu who were affected by supertyphoon Yolanda.
Provincial Schools Superintendent Dr. Arden Monisit has approved the release of P2 million from their calamity fund. Each teacher will receive P20,000.
About 95 percent of teachers in northern Cebu were affected by the storm.
The DepEd has likewise doubled the budget for classroom repairs to P100,000, Monisit added.
According to DepEd, a total of 874 classrooms in northern Cebu were damaged by the storm. The number does not include classrooms that were damaged by the Oct. 15 earthquake.
Teachers from southern Cebu also extended help to their counterparts in the north by sending sacks of rice, canned goods, noodles and other relief items.
Alternative classes
Although classes have resumed, Monisit said teachers were unable to hold regular classes because of the damaged classrooms and books.
At present, teachers in affected areas are involved in feeding and stress debriefing their students. They also conducted “Oplan Where Are You” to check on their students and find out if anyone was injured, killed or missing.
In Daanbantayan town, two students died. One is a female high school student from Tuminhaw National High School and a male student from Tuminhaw Elementary School. In Santa Fe, a male student of the Hilantagaan Elementary School died.
He said he submitted a report of casualties to their Central Office to check if they can extend assistance.