The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) today declared that the postponement of school opening in select areas affected by of monsoon and typhoon Carina floodings is an inevitable consequence of the national government’s gross incompetence and negligence in disaster preparedness and addressing the vulnerable state of Philippine schools.
“Pushing through with school opening will only further burden children, teachers, and parents affected by the recent calamity or those whose schools to attend have been damaged. It is disheartening that once again, children’s education is being sacrificed due to the government’s failure to adequately prepare and respond,” said Vladimer Quetua, ACT Chairperson.
Quetua emphasized that amidst a severe learning crisis, the country is now faced with yet another disruption of the school year. He stressed the need to look beyond short-term responses and demanded real, long-term solutions.
“Are we doomed to have education constantly disrupted every time there is a calamity? Where is the comprehensive plan and funding to swiftly repair classrooms damaged by Typhoon Carina and previous calamities? Where are the much-touted disaster-resilient classrooms? Where are the dedicated evacuation centers? Where is the adequate aid for affected families?” Quetua questioned.
The ACT Chairperson also criticized the Marcos Jr. administration’s false claims about completed flood control projects. “On Monday, Marcos Jr. boasted that his administration had completed 5,500 flood control projects. The severe flooding in the following days exposed this as nothing but empty rhetoric,” Quetua pointed out.
“Kapag may baha, mahihirap agad ang sinisisi, silang ginagawang kabuhayan ang basura dahil walang disenteng trabaho at sapat na hanapbuhay. Hindi sila ang sumisira sa kalikasan at dahilan ng baha, ang imperyalistang pandarambong ang sumisira, mga higanteng minahan, mga malalaking reclamation projects, mga quarrying companies na pumapatag ng kabundukan. Nasaan ang hustisya para sa kalikasan?” Quetua concluded.
ACT calls on the government to address these systemic issues immediately and to prioritize the welfare of students, teachers, and the education sector as a whole. The organization demands concrete actions to ensure the safety of schools, adequate support for affected communities, and a comprehensive plan to mitigate the impact of natural disasters on education.
