The Department of Education (DepEd) sounded the alarm on Monday: 17,451 public schools across nine regions have suspended in-person classes as Super Typhoon Nando unleashed its fury.
The impact is massive—over 10 million students and more than 426,000 teachers and staff are affected. To keep learning going, DepEd said schools have shifted to alternative modes of delivery, proving once again the resilience of Filipino education in times of crisis.
But the storm’s damage goes beyond classrooms. At least 32 schools have now doubled as evacuation centers across four regions, sheltering families forced to leave their homes.
DepEd assured the public that it continues to work hand in hand with local disaster offices, pushing for preemptive evacuations and real-time reporting of the typhoon’s effects.
To keep schools and communities safe, the DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DepEd-DRRMS) reminded all divisions to:
-
Monitor PAGASA bulletins and LGU advisories without pause
-
Coordinate closely with local disaster councils for updates
-
Activate contingency plans against floods and landslides
-
Protect books, learning tools, and school equipment
-
Ensure emergency supplies and resources are ready
As of 8 p.m. Monday, four areas in Luzon were placed under Signal No. 4 as Nando churned near the Babuyan Islands. The super typhoon was last spotted 85 kilometers west-northwest of Calayan, Cagayan, packing sustained winds of 215 km/h and gusts of up to 265 km/h while moving west at 20 km/h.
For millions of Filipino students, this storm is more than just a weather disturbance—it’s a reminder of how fragile classrooms can be in the face of nature’s power. Yet it also highlights the strength of a community that refuses to let education stop, even when the winds howl and the rains pour.
