Classes in typhoon areas to resume Jan. 15

MANILA, Philippines - Classes in higher educational institutions in Western, Eastern and Central Visayas that Super Typhoon Yolanda had devastated will resume on Jan. 15.

Patricia Licuanan, head of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), said higher education institutions that can manage to operate normally and whose students are able to continue with routine activities may follow the regular schedule for the second semester.

“The (schools) in the affected areas are directed to resume operations by Jan. 15, 2014, or as soon thereafter as their capacity to operate has stabilized and been determined to be in the best interest of all concerned stakeholders and when public safety and security have been assured by competent authorities,” she said.

The CHED ordered yesterday the temporary closure of all higher educational institutions in areas that Yolanda had affected.

Licuanan told CHED regional directors in Eastern Visayas and other areas that the order entails undertaking all collaborative measures to track the whereabouts and physical safety of their staff.

“When the situation warrants, affected schools are requested to coordinate with the concerned regional director to ensure that no student, faculty or staff of affected schools shall be unduly prejudiced in their academic standing, employment benefits, or other compensation packages due them,” she said.

The Visayas has about 406 higher educational institutions.

Psychologists join effort

Dozens of psychologists were starting work in the typhoon-devastated areas to help survivors deal with the psychological fallout of the disaster.

The effort is an early attempt to head off what health professionals fear could be serious problems when the physical scars begin to heal.

Annabelle de Veyra, Department of Health (DOH) chief administrator in Eastern Visayas, said they are worried that in the next few days anarchy will occur.

“Two big stores have already been looted,” she said. “It’s not just food that they are getting. It’s more of a psychological reaction. People from Tacloban are not like that. They need psychological counseling.”

Last Tuesday, a 55-member team of DOH psychologists arrived in Tacloban to help some of the residents deal with the disaster.

Nedy Tayag, a DOH clinical psychologist, said behavior of typhoon survivors was typical among those confronted by massive disasters or destructive conflict.

“Their reaction is normal in light of the abnormal situation,” she said. “It could lead to mental breakdown, emotional imbalance, confusion and depression.”

The focus of experts would be “psychological intervention” that could involve therapy and counseling sessions of both individuals and groups.

BI eases immigration checks

Foreigners taking part in relief operations for Yolanda victims will be spared from the rigorous immigration checks at the airport.

Bureau of Immigration (BI) officer-in-charge Siegfred Mison said yesterday they have relaxed immigration regulations for foreign humanitarian workers and volunteers wishing to help typhoon victims in the Visayas.

“Even if they do not have the proper documents to enter the country we would process their papers. If they want to stay longer, we would process their visa for free,” he said.

The BI also waived the required six months’ passport validity for foreign aid workers. – Helen Flores, Sheila Crisostomo, Evelyn Macairan