The Department of Education in Bicol (DepEd-5) has provided nearly PHP200 million in funds as part of rehabilitation and response to the damage caused by several disasters in the region.

During a press conference at the regional office here on Tuesday, architect Deo Moreno, DepEd Bicol Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) focal person, said the funds were immediately released to the requesting schools division offices (SDOs).

“All requested funds have corresponding Special Allotment Release Orders (SARO) for schools affected by ‘Enteng’, ‘Kristine’, and ‘Pepito’. The amount provided was from the standby fund of DepEd-Bicol,” he said.

Based on the data, for Tropical Storm Enteng, PHP82.7 million was given to eight SDOs for temporary learning spaces (TLSs), clean-up, and clearing operations; subsidence for sinkholes: PHP1.1 million in Sorsogon; Tropical Storm Carina, PHP2.9 million for clean-up for Catanduanes; fire incident: PHP739,000 for clearing activities in Catanduanes and Masbate provinces.

Also, in response to the magnitude 6.1 earthquake in October — PHP185,000 for clean-up and clearing in Catanduanes; PHP40,000 for landslide cleanup in Camarines Norte; and Severe Tropical Storm Kristine –PHP104.3 million for 12 SDOs affected by the weather disturbance.

Moreno added that they requested additional funds for the Catanduanes areas affected by Super Typhoon Pepito.

“The central office downloaded an additional PHP11 million for Catanduanes,” he said.

He added that DepEd-5 provided basic response interventions like TLSs, minor repairs, learners kits, teachers kits, and replacement of damaged non-infrastructure, among others. (PNA)