Ahead of the approaching school opening on August 29, the Department of Education (DepEd) has been urged by House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro from the ACT Teachers Partylist to expedite the repair of damaged and flooded schools.
Castro's appeal comes as Brigada Eskwela kicks off today.
According to the solon, based on reports from teachers, numerous public schools in Central Luzon have been severely affected by floods, and some have even been repurposed as evacuation centers.
Castro emphasized the need to prioritize the restoration of the affected public schools, particularly in Central Luzon, due to the upcoming school start date on August 29.
"Kaya nga tina-try ngayong mai-repair lalo na sa bahagi Central Luzon, ilang bahagi ng Norther Luzon, 'yung mga silya na sira sira [ay] nire-repair kasi tatlong linggo na lang, pasukan nanaman," she explained during her interview on DZRH.
"So, 'yun 'yung mga report sa atin na sinasabi. 'Yung mga libro na nabasa na rin na kailangan na ring mapalitan. 'Yung mga problema mostly dito sa Central Luzon, gaya ng Bulacan, Pampanga [at] Nueva Ecija—'yun 'yung mga report sa amin," she added.
Meanwhile, Castro reiterated the call to reallocate the substantial intelligence funds of DepEd for more crucial purposes, such as school repairs and additional benefits for teachers in need of financial support.
Under the proposed 2024 national budget, DepEd's confidential funds, which are led by Vice President Sara Duterte, amount to 250 million pesos.
