Damage from floods to schools in Mindanao tops P400-M mark

By GISELLE OMBAY, GMA Integrated News The estimated cost of damage to Mindanao schools due to floods from heavy rains caused by the shear line, and a low-pressure area (LPA) has breached the P400-million mark, according to the Department of Education (DepEd). Based on the agency’s education cluster report as of January 4, the repair and reconstruction of 42 schools could cost roughly P409 million. Northern Mindanao recorded 30 schools with structural damage. Next was Caraga with 11, and Zamboanga Peninsula with one. DepEd said that seven schools were still being used as evacuation centers as of Wednesday, of which five were in Oroquieta City, and one each in Siargao and Surigao del Norte. The estimated cost of infrastructure damage nationwide due to rains and floods caused by the shear line since the Christmas weekend was lower based on Thursday’s situational report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) at P268,565,000. Most of the damage was logged in Northern Mindanao, estimated at P241,695,000. Several infrastructure facilities in Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, and Caraga also sustained damage. Meanwhile, the cost of damage to agriculture now stands at P245,049,848.02. The National Irrigation Administration also reported P2,050,000 in damage to its facilities. Also, 5,152 houses sustained damage from the effects of inclement weather, with estimated cost of roughly P101,615,000. A total of 4,242 were partially damaged, and 910 were totally damaged. The reported death toll also remained at 52, according to NDRRMC. Of the number, 13 were already confirmed, while 39 were still up for validation. There were also 18 people still reportedly missing, while 16 were injured. So far, a total of 681,492 people or 170,970 families were affected in 1,132 barangays in Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and Bangsamoro Region. Most of them were from Caraga with 234,108 individuals or 59,739 families affected. There were also 23,536 displaced people or 6,635 families remaining in 163 evacuation centers, while 41,214 displaced people or 10,972 families were staying outside of evacuation centers. At least 1,428 people or 457 families were also preemptively evacuated in Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Caraga. —LBG, GMA Integrated News

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