The Manila Times
(UPDATE) CLASSES at all levels in Mindanao have been suspended in all areas affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, which struck on the first day of school, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Monday. “Based on the initial report, one building in Matanao National High School in Davao del Sur collapsed after the earthquake,” the DepEd said in a statement. “Because of the effect of the earthquake and following aftershocks, classes at all levels in affected areas in Mindanao were suspended, on orders of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,” it said. “We immediately mobilized our engineers in the affected regions, particularly in DepEd Regional Office XII, to inspect school facilities impacted by the earthquake,” said Education Secretary Sonny Angara. “I am currently in Cotabato City for a school visit and am closely monitoring developments in the affected areas. We also inspected classrooms here today following the earthquake. The safety of our learners, teachers, and school personnel remains our top priority, and we will take all necessary measures to ensure that schools are safe before classes resume,” Angara said. The DepEd said that based on initial reports, about 6,224 schools in five regions (Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and Caraga) were exposed to the effects of the earthquake and aftershocks. It said over 3.2 million learners and 128,000 teachers and staff were affected. The department said it activated emergency response mechanisms and that it was doing rapid assessments and structural safety inspections in schools. Angara assured learners, teachers, and parents that aid would be immediately given to affected schools. “Minor repairs costing up to P50,000 may be charged against the schools’ Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), allowing immediate action on urgent needs,” the DepEd said. “For major repairs and rehabilitation requiring larger funding, DepEd has separate funding mechanisms and emergency resources available to support affected schools,” it said. Enough funds Malacañang on Monday reassured the public, especially those in areas struck by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, that the government has sufficient funds for disaster response in Mindanao. “We know that the current funding is sufficient to carry out rescue and relief efforts and to alleviate the impact of the disaster that occurred today,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said in Filipino in a Palace briefing. Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it continues to closely coordinate with concerned agencies and “stands ready to process any request for QRF (quick response fund) replenishment that may be submitted to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of assistance to affected communities.” “For the Sarangani earthquake response, existing QRF resources remain available for immediate deployment by the concerned agencies, while the DBM remains prepared to provide the necessary budgetary support as requirements arise,” the DBM said in a statement. The DBM further noted that the combined available QRFs of national government disaster response agencies so far stand at P13.14 billion, while the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) has an available balance of P34.23 billion. “In accordance with existing budgeting and accounting rules and regulations, agencies may request the replenishment of their respective QRFs once fund utilization reaches the prescribed 50 percent threshold,” the DBM said.
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