By Michelle Ducut
Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) caused widespread destruction in the Bicol region, damaging 408 schools and leaving 244 classrooms completely destroyed, according to a report from the Department of Education Region 5 (DepEd-5).
The damage assessment was based on the Rapid Assessment of Damages Report (RADaR), conducted across various school divisions following the typhoon’s landfall on November 16, 2024. The DepEd has submitted the findings to its central office to request funding for repairs and interventions.
“The affected schools include 108 in Catanduanes, 144 in Camarines Sur, 113 in Camarines Norte, and 43 in Naga City,” said Mayflor Marie Jumamil, chief of the DepEd-5 Public Affairs Unit (PAU), during a press briefing on Wednesday. She also noted that 3,848 learners have been displaced.
Of the 244 classrooms destroyed, the breakdown includes 102 in Catanduanes, 128 in Camarines Sur, and 14 in Camarines Norte. The DepEd has instructed school disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) teams to assess safety and initiate necessary interventions.
DepEd-5 Director Gilbert Sadsad announced that a regional validation team is conducting inspections in the hardest-hit areas, particularly in six municipalities of Catanduanes: Pandan, Panganiban, Gigmoto, Caramoran, Bagamanoc, and Viga. The team’s findings will inform the immediate response and recovery strategies.
To ensure the continuity of education, DepEd-5 is implementing alternative delivery modes (ADMs) as per DepEd Memorandum No. 64, s. 2024. The measures include the use of the Dynamic Learning Program (DLP) to minimize disruptions caused by the typhoon.
The Philippines, situated along the Pacific Typhoon Belt, regularly experiences severe weather events, making education infrastructure particularly vulnerable. In 2020, Typhoon Rolly (Goni) similarly devastated schools in the Bicol region, prompting nationwide efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and recovery protocols. Despite these measures, recurring typhoons underscore the need for sustained investment in resilient infrastructure and emergency response systems.
DepEd-5 reiterated its commitment to safeguarding education and urged the government and stakeholders to support rehabilitation efforts in the region.