INSPECTION. Education Secretary Leonor Brioners surveys the damage caused by Typhoon Odette to the Gabaldon School Building of Dauin Central School in Negros Oriental on Saturday (Dec. 18, 2021). The school was built in 1914 while renovations were made in 2006. (Photo courtesy of DepEd Facebook)

DUMAGUETE CITY – The Department of Education (DepEd) proceeded with all scheduled activities in Negros Oriental this week to further strengthen programs in the province and at the same time, survey the damage caused by Typhoon Odette.

Signal No. 4 was hoisted in the southern portions of Negros Occidental (La Castellana, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Moises Padilla, Isabela, Binalbagan, City of Himamaylan, City of Kabankalan, Ilog, Cauayan, Candoni, City of Sipalay, Hinoba-An) on Friday.

Among the highlights of the visit of Secretary Leonor Briones was the agreement of DepEd and the local government here to proceed with the hosting of the Asean School Games, also known as the Youth Southeast Asian Games, in November next year.

It is an annual competition for secondary school student-athletes in the Asean and is organized under the authority of the Asean Schools Sports Council.

The Philippines first joined the event in 2010 and first hosted it in 2014.

“Despite the typhoon and the challenges we are experiencing right now, we still have to ensure that our teachers, personnel, and learners are being assisted in delivering quality basic education,” Briones said in a news release on Saturday.

Briones also consulted the Canlaon City government on the necessary actions for the newly-established Schools Division Office.

On Thursday, Briones distributed school supplies, school bags, and pairs of shoes to learners of Polo Elementary School, and met the teaching and non-teaching personnel in Tanjay South Central School and Schools Division Office of Tanjay City on Wednesday.

She also led the inauguration of the three three-story school buildings with 12 classrooms, the groundbreaking of the Central Visayas’ Regional Sub-Office, and the first-ever Gabaldon Heritage Week at Dumaguete City National High School.

“After this visit, we will make sure to go to the other regions in the country to oversee the current situation in the area and to monitor the implementation of the limited face-to-face classes and other learning delivery modalities,” Briones said.

She is scheduled to check the facilities and school buildings of the affected schools around the province on Saturday. (PR)