Benguet schools in dire state

AFTER 36 out of the 426 schools in Benguet province were not spared by the wrath of Typhoon Ompong, the Department of Education is looking at designing typhoon resilient buildings.

During the Kapihan sa DepEd Cordillera on

November 14, Benguet Division Engineer III Ferdinand Sangcaan said with the calamities experienced in the province, school building design needs to be typhoon resilient.

Sangcaaan added considering the topography and terrain of the province, mitigating measures for slope protection is required namely retaining wall which reinforced concrete metal and the slope protection-crib wall with beam and column, typical grouted riprap, gabion with cage or screen.

During National Disaster Risk Reduction Management conference, Benguet Disaster Risk Reduction Management Coordinator Nerissa Barbosa said they are pushing for the NDRRM to take into consideration possible funding for ripraps.

“One positive effect of Ompong is they saw the huge need in the Cordillera na dapat isama ang slope protection, riprap when they give fund for new construction,” she added.

Meanwhile, Sangcaan said the agency is awaiting for the approval DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones for the funding for the repair of the 36 damaged buildings including slope protection and riprap which is estimated to reach P75 million.

However, the budget was trimmed to P50,596,167.48 which can only cover 30 schools.

The remaining P25 million may be included in the agency’s funding for next year.