Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara announced on Thursday that the opening of classes in some schools affected by Super Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon would be postponed.

“Some schools will really have to postpone their openings kasi maraming aayusin at lilinisin (Some schools will really have to postpone their openings because there’s a lot to fix and clean up),” Sec Angara said in a statement.

Classes in public schools were originally scheduled to resume on July 29. However, due to the severity of Super Typhoon Carina, Secretary Angara has ordered a delay until all affected schools have been repaired and cleaned.

Ninety schools across nine regions, including Metro Manila, the Cordillera Administrative Region, the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas, were significantly impacted by the typhoon. In these regions, 324 schools are currently being used as evacuation centers.

“Pero yung wala o minimal ang damages itutuloy pa rin ang pasukan. I’ll be issuing a list tomorrow kung saan postponed ang pasukan and the regional directors will also work with the principals to assess readiness for school opening (Classes will push through with the opening for schools with little to no damage. I’ll be issuing a list tomorrow of where the suspension applies; regional directors will also work with the principals to assess readiness for school opening)," he added.

Hindi namin pipilitin yung mga nasalanta talaga at mahihirapan sa school opening ng Lunes (We will not pressure those who are greatly affected, as they will struggle with school opening on Monday),” he concluded.

Meanwhile, DepEd has issued Memorandum Order No. 4, which provides accessible loan facilities for affected teachers and non-teaching personnel. Under the DepEd Provident Fund, qualified personnel can borrow up to PHP100,000, with additional loans available for extreme emergency cases.