The morning after Typhoon Uwan, I stood outside our school gate ankle-deep in mud, staring at what used to be our Grade 5 classroom. The roof was gone, the books were drenched, and the chairs floated like tiny boats in a brown sea.
And yet, when I turned around, I saw something more powerful than destruction—our teachers and students, broomsticks in hand, ready to clean up. “Let’s fix this together, Ma’am,” one of them said.
It wasn’t just a school cleanup. It was a quiet declaration that learning would not stop—not even for a storm.
The Numbers Behind the Damage
According to the Department of Education (DepEd)’s latest report released on November 12, the destruction caused by Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong) is staggering:
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2,953 schools were damaged nationwide.
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10,400 classrooms sustained damage — 3,503 minor, 1,986 major, and 1,238 totally destroyed.
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Region V (Bicol) recorded the largest number of affected schools, with over 8,000 classrooms hit, mostly minor damage.
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4,747 classrooms are still being used as evacuation centers.
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₱661.1 million has been allocated for repairs and restoration, including power and connectivity.
DepEd has mobilized Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) teams, requesting an initial ₱100 million for cleanup and minor repairs, while coordinating with local governments and international partners like the World Bank.
📚 Source: DepEd Official Situation Report, November 12, 2025.
Did You Know?
Even after severe typhoons, many Filipino schools double as evacuation centers, hosting families while teachers rebuild classrooms by day and comfort evacuees by night. It’s a reality few see—but one every teacher feels deeply.
Lessons from the Rubble: What the Storm Taught Us
When I entered my classroom a few days later, the chalkboard was cracked but still standing. It reminded me of us—battered but not broken.
As educators, we often prepare our students for tests, but the test of resilience is one we take together. Typhoon Uwan showed us that disaster preparedness is not just a module—it’s a mindset.
I once made the mistake of thinking disaster drills were just formalities. But seeing students lead cleanup drives, organize relief goods, and protect their classmates changed that perspective. They had learned not just how to evacuate, but how to care.
Building Back Better: What DepEd and Teachers Can Do
If there’s one thing the Philippines knows, it’s how to rise again. Here’s how schools can strengthen their response and rebuild learning spaces faster and safer:
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Integrate DRRM education in daily lessons.
Make preparedness part of classroom life—not just during drills. Students can map safe zones, create emergency kits, or simulate communication plans. -
Leverage community power.
Barangay leaders, parents, and alumni often want to help. Schools that coordinate early rebuild faster and safer. -
Document, don’t just repair.
Keeping a record of damage helps DepEd and LGUs access funds and resources faster for future crises. -
Focus on emotional recovery.
Sometimes, students need a listening ear more than a new chair. Integrate art, reflection journals, and group sharing into post-disaster recovery weeks.
Global Lessons for Local Classrooms
According to UNESCO, over 75 million children worldwide face disruptions in education every year due to disasters and conflicts. The Philippines, being one of the most disaster-prone countries, stands at the forefront of this challenge—and opportunity.
By combining local wisdom (like bayanihan) with global standards for school safety and DRRM, our education system can serve as a model of resilience and compassion.
From Ruins to Renewal
A month after the typhoon, our students returned. The walls were newly painted, but the most beautiful thing wasn’t the fresh color—it was their laughter echoing once again in the halls.
I realized then that rebuilding schools is not just about cement and steel. It’s about rebuilding hope. Every repaired chair, every mended book, every teacher who chooses to stay—that’s where real recovery begins.
So to every teacher sweeping mud, drying papers, and rewriting lesson plans from scratch—thank you. You’re not just restoring classrooms. You’re restoring the future.
If you’ve led a classroom recovery after a disaster, share your story in the comments. Your experience might be the light another teacher needs after their own storm. 🌈