A TOTAL of 4,323 students were displaced from the massive landslide in Masara, Maco, an official of the Department of Education (DepEd) Davao de Oro revealed.
Cristy Epe, DepEd Davao de Oro schools division superintendent, said 4,097 affected students are from six public schools while only 236 come from a lone private school in the area.
He also said the tragedy also affected 182 teaching and non-teaching personnel.
The public schools were Elizalde Elementary School, Elizalde National High School, Panibasan ES, Panibasan NHS, Masara Integrated School, Tagbaros ES, and Masara Christian School, Inc. (private).
Epe said the education of the learners is disrupted as they are currently evacuated to another school. Nevertheless, the department has conducted the program “Tuloy Kaalaman” to address the learning gap.
“Tuloy Kaalaman” is an approach where teaching is concentrated on essential competencies such as reading, Math, and Science. In between these subjects are Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health (MAPEH), and Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) “to break the monotony of instruction.”
“Shortened ang time, very crucial gyud siya on how our children would learn the skills or competencies,” she said stressing that they also have to deal with the trauma brought by the calamity to the students.
Psychosocial interventions and services are provided to the students, with assistance from guidance counselors and the social welfare department of the Province of Davao de Oro.
As far as evacuation is concerned, DepEd is open to receiving evacuees in their schools, but she said a maximum of 15 days will be given, “as learning has to continue.”
“Of course, we are willing to go into negotiation, kung wala pa talagang nahanap [evacuation site],” she added.
As of Feb. 15, eight schools are being utilized as evacuation centers namely: Andili NHS, Lorenzo Sarmiento NHS, Nueva Visayas ES, Nuevo Iloco ES, Nuevo Iloco NHS, Bawani ES, Mawab Central ES, and Elizalde ES.
As of this writing, the Provincial Engineering Office continues to prepare an area in Elizalde Quasi Parish where shelter tents will be placed to temporarily accommodate displaced families affected by the landslide.
