I still remember the morning after a strong typhoon years ago. Our school grounds were covered in ankle-deep mud, the bulletin boards soaked, and the chalkboard streaked with rainwater. Students trickled in, shoes squishing with every step, and I wondered — how do we even start again?
That same question echoes today for teachers and learners across Visayas and Mindanao, where Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) recently left 76 schools damaged.
According to the DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS), the Department needs over PHP13 million for cleanup and minor repairs in affected schools. And while that number sounds daunting, it represents something deeper — the continuing belief that every Filipino child deserves a safe, clean place to learn, no matter the storm.
🧹 The Power Behind the DepEd Quick Response Fund
The DepEd Quick Response Fund (QRF) is like the “emergency bag” teachers keep under their desks — ready for whatever surprise the school year brings. It’s a financial safety net that allows the Department to swiftly respond to disasters through immediate repairs, cleanup, and rehabilitation.
For Typhoon Tino’s aftermath, here’s how the fund will be used:
-
PHP11.6 million for minor classroom repairs (around PHP49,000 per damaged classroom).
-
PHP2.11 million for cleanup and clearing operations in 76 schools.
-
522 schools currently serve as evacuation centers, housing displaced families — turning classrooms into sanctuaries once again.
💡 Did You Know?
DepEd’s QRF doesn’t just cover typhoons — it also supports schools affected by fires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. It’s replenished annually by the national budget to ensure continuous readiness.
(Source: DepEd DRRMS report, 2025)
🌱 When Classrooms Become Community Shelters
In moments like this, Filipino schools transform. A blackboard becomes a community bulletin. Desks turn into sleeping mats. And teachers — always the quiet heroes — become organizers, caregivers, and comfort-givers.
During Typhoon Odette a few years ago, I volunteered in a school used as an evacuation center. We set up makeshift learning corners so displaced kids could still read or draw while waiting for help. It reminded me that education doesn’t pause just because life gets messy.
That’s the same spirit fueling DepEd’s quick response today — not just rebuilding walls, but restoring the heartbeat of the community.
💔 The Teacher’s Side of Recovery
Let’s be honest: it’s not easy coming back after the storm. Teachers face classrooms that smell of damp books, lesson plans lost to floodwater, and exhausted students still reeling from trauma.
I once tried teaching a class two days after a typhoon. Half the students were absent; the rest sat quietly, tired from helping at home. My planned lesson went out the window. Instead, we shared stories. We drew “dream classrooms” and imagined what we’d fix first. It became one of the most meaningful sessions of my career — because learning found its way through empathy, not structure.
That day taught me: recovery is also part of education.
🛠️ Rebuilding More Than Walls
When we talk about the DepEd quick response fund, we’re really talking about investing in resilience — in teachers who show up even when the roof leaks, in students who learn by candlelight, and in barangays that rebuild schools before their own homes.
According to DepEd Media Relations Chief Dennis Legaspi, the Department is mobilizing its QRF to ensure swift repair and recovery for all affected areas. It’s not just about fixing buildings; it’s about restoring dignity and continuity for thousands of learners.
📊 Fast Facts:
-
64 classrooms totally damaged
-
91 classrooms with major damage
-
237 classrooms with minor damage
-
Over 20,681 schools suspended classes across 10 regions, including Bicol, Mimaropa, and BARMM
(Source: DepEd DRRMS, November 2025)
🧭 Try This: “Classroom Resilience Reflection”
Here’s a short reflection challenge for teachers and school leaders:
-
List three things your classroom or school community did right after the last major disruption.
-
Identify one system (a communication line, student activity, or emergency drill) you can strengthen before the next storm.
-
Ask your students: “What makes our classroom feel safe?” Their answers might surprise you.
By preparing emotionally and practically, we help our learners see that resilience isn’t just survival — it’s leadership in action.
🌈 A Classroom that Always Rises
When I see photos of muddy school corridors being swept by teachers and students, I don’t just see damage — I see the Filipino spirit at work. We are, after all, a nation that builds again and again, not because we must, but because education is too precious to leave broken.
So, as DepEd moves to release its quick response fund for Typhoon Tino’s aftermath, let’s remember: the fund is only as strong as the people it supports. And that’s us — the teachers, parents, and students who refuse to let learning stop.
✨ To every educator in those 76 schools — we see you, we thank you, and we stand with you.
Have you ever taught or learned after a storm? Share your story in the comments — let’s remind each other that even in the rain, learning continues. 🌦️