Legazpi City- The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Team of the Department of Education Regional Office V together with the Schools Division Superintendents and DepEd Central Office Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) Team headed by Director IV Ronilda Co held a meeting to discuss the updates on DepEd’s continuing response for the Mayon emergency in Albay.On Febuary 9, 2018, DepEd Regional DRRM Focal Person Maria Cristina Baroso provided information on the recent activities of the Regional Office in relation to the Mayon emergency Response of DepEd and updates on the implementation of the Oplan Sagip Eskwela. She mentioned that aside from the ongoing construction of the 196 Temporary Learning Shelters intended for the learners, DepEd has also distributed Hygiene Kits to the affected learners of Mt. Mayon eruption.

According to her, DepEd has allotted PhP5.8 million pesos for hygiene kits to benefit 33 thousand affected learners in Albay. Some of these hygiene kits were already distributed to the target beneficiaries.
She also added in her report the positive result of the pairing/ twinning scheme of the non-affected Schools Division Offices of DepEd Region V in conducting resource mobilization for Mayon evacuees. At present, DepEd has already turned over more than 1 million worth of food packs and kitchen facilities to the SDO Albay and SDO Tabaco for distribution to the evacuees, through the Schools Division Office of Sorsogon Province and Schools Division Office of Masbate Province.

Updates on other support activities like Psychological First Aid (PFA) to learner evacuees, the result of the coordination with external partners and the support to the Basic Information Communications Link for Response (BICOL) of OCD were also discussed during the meeting.

In his message, Deped Regional Director Ramon Fiel Abcede lauded the efforts of all DepEd Region V Officials in ensuring the active support of the agency to the affected communities by the Mayon eruption in the province of Albay. RD Abcede assured that DepED will continue to provide whatever support it can give to the families and to the learners affected by the said emergency.
“We are here to coordinate and to continue helping the affected families of this emergency, whatever support that we can provide. Hindi lang tayo sa TLS but we have many other support initiatives, especially for the children and the teachers,” RD Abcede said.

Meanwhile, DepEd Central Office DRRMS Director Ronilda Co commended the DepEd in Bicol for properly managing the emergency situation especially on the handling of the displaced learners in the province.
“We are really happy kasi nahandle ng leadership ng Region V ang pag-aasikaso sa mga bata at launching ng learning continuity. This Mayon eruption exemplifies yung good coordination ng buong region sa mga kaso na ganito”.

Prior to the launching of the Oplan Sagip Eskwela, DepEd has already utilized more than 2,400 teachers in Albay for the camp management, rendering services beyond teaching hours.
The Department of Education will continuously run the Oplan Sagip Eskwela until the situation returns to normal for the learners and evacuees in Albay. (PAU/MKA)