Tents set up by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) in Masbate serve as temporary learning spaces to ensure continuous learning in the province.

Claudio Villareal, chief of DSWD-5’s Disaster Response Management Division, said the tents were allocated to local government units (LGUs) in need of learning facilities, especially since Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name Bualoi) caused significant damage to classrooms and buildings.

“In coordination with the Department of Education provincial office and the provincial local government unit of Masbate, we have provided 150 tents as temporary learning spaces. LGUs need to coordinate with their school division superintendent to receive the tents,” he said in a phone interview.

A tent measures four meters in length, four meters in width and 2.73 meters in height.

Villareal said additional requests are being processed to accommodate more schools, including those located in Baleno, Masbate.

Typically used as temporary shelters during disasters, these family tents will now serve a new purpose as learning spaces for students in several schools, including Amador Bello, Lahong, Lahong Interior, Canjonday, Bangao, Batuila, Polot, Catalino M. Esquilona, Lipata, Cancaharao, Panase, and Gangao Elementary School. This initiative also extends to the coastal areas of Carandang, Eastern Capsay, Docol, Cagpandan, Potoson, Magdalena, and Tinapian.

Hazel Llanto, principal of Cagpandan Elementary School, said many classrooms were severely damaged, with some completely collapsed due to Opong.

“Thank you for the family tents because the children’s learning can continue despite the challenges we faced from Opong. Thank you, DSWD, for not forgetting us in Masbate, even from a distance. You prioritized our needs over your own families,” Llanto said. (PNA)