P2.7 M released for school supplies in Pablo-hit areas

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) has released some P2.7 million in donation for the relief of schools in Region 11 and the Caraga region that were badly hit by typhoon Pablo last month.

DepEd said that the money will be used to buy school supplies for students, to help them get back in the groove of learning.

“We have received some P2.7 million in cash given by donors from within and outside DepEd to help the survivors — specially our school children — pick up the pieces, so to speak,” said Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro.  

DepEd reported that in places where schools are still being used as evacuation centers, school personnel and government officials along with donors from private and international communities set up tents to conduct psycho-social intervention for the typhoon survivors.

“It is important that children and adults go through this debriefing process for them to begin to understand and accept what had happened. Ang pagbabalik eskwela, simula ito. Di natin dapat hayaan na si Pablo ang manalo. Kahit maliit na lang ang natitirang pag-asa, positibo tayo na makakabangon tayo at kaya natin maibalik sa normal ang kanilang buhay,” Luistro explained.

Meanwhile, other donations in cash and in kind are being readied in the DepEd Central Office for shipment in the affected Mindanao regions.

DepEd thanked its partners and donors which include Globe Telecoms, Plan International, Save the Children, UNICEF, World Vision and Red Cross. Major school supplies donors include National Book Store Foundation Inc. (NBSFI), Centurian International Corp., Bio-Strata Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Papermate Stationery and Office Supplies.

The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) donated educational toys while Lamoiyan Corp. gave packs of shampoo and toothpaste. All these will be given to affected kids in the two regions.

The Department continues to appeal for more donations in order to provide for learning kits for over 200,000 student victims.