Schools in the Philippines are now ready for the looming impact of the “very strong” El Niño, the Department of Education (DepEd) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) said on Tuesday.
Extreme heat is one of the climate risks being closely monitored by the government, with the expected onset of “very strong” impact in select parts of the country in November.
In an interview, DepEd DRRMS Director IV Felino Castro V said measures are already in place well in advance to ensure the safety of learners at schools across the country.
“Since last year, we have been implementing measures that can respond to extreme heat. So, at the school level, mayroon tayong paghahanda (we already have preparations),” he said.
“We are ensuring that the infrastructure and health facilities are present. So, mayroon tayong hydration stations sa bawat eskwelahan (we have hydration stations in each school), wherein we encourage all learners to hydrate – as much as possible, every hour or even less.”
Castro also underscored the importance of sustainable access to clean drinking water not only in schools but also at home.
“We have to ensure that every time our learner goes to school, mayroon po siyang dalang tumbler na may lamang tubig, iigib na lang siya ng pang-inom sa school (the learner must have a tumbler with water, and they will just refill drinking water at school). We have to make sure that clean water is available,” he said.
Castro also highlighted the need to ensure proper ventilation in classrooms, as well as advancing climate change adaptation literacy in basic education.
“We may need, as a future resilience activity, we need to plant more trees. We are also stepping up Gulayan sa Paaralan, and we are also teaching them how to conserve water,” he said.
He also cited the use of Project Learning Institution Geohazard Tracking and Assessment for Safety Plus (LIGTAS+) as an advanced intelligence platform, guiding school administrations in decisions related to class suspensions, localized resumption to ensure learning continuity, and science-based risk data monitoring and outlook tools, among others.
Castro, meanwhile, assured funding for school response against the looming impact of the “very strong” El Niño.
Under the Disaster Preparedness and Response Program (DPRP), the agency has more than PHP3 billion in response funds for various disaster response and recovery.
“We have yet to get more money from the DBM (Department of Budget Management) kasi hindi pa nari-release (because it has not yet been released). So, that’s also intended to beef up preparedness. We have about more than PHP3 billion,” Castro said.
The DBM has yet to release a special allotment release order (SARO) for about PHP2.9 billion under the DPRP, he added.
The DepEd has earlier released assistance and recovery funds for cleanup, clearing operations, and minor repairs in schools affected by both the June earthquake and recent heavy rains brought by tropical cyclones and the southwest monsoon. (PNA)
