ILOCOS NORTE - As classes commenced smoothly across Ilocos Norte on Monday, the province reported nearing its enrollment target for the 2024-2025 school year, with about 78,720 of the projected 88,000 students already registered in various educational institutions.
According to Philippines News Agency, the designated information officer of the Schools Division of Ilocos Norte, all 364 schools in the province opened without significant issues. She highlighted the effective monitoring of the class openings throughout the region. The successful start follows recent challenges posed by Super Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon, which affected the region significantly.
In a video message, Donato Balderas Jr., the superintendent of Ilocos Norte's schools division, praised the community's efforts, noting that the province managed to open all schools on the national schedule despite the adverse weather conditions. The smooth opening included the first Monday convocation at Ilocos Norte National High School, the largest school in the area, which saw extensive participation from the student body early in the morning.
Additional measures to facilitate a smooth transition into the new school year included augmented traffic management around school zones, with police officers supporting traffic enforcers to manage the increased vehicle flow. Meanwhile, ongoing enrollment and updates continue to be processed through the department's online system, Talamayan added.
Challenges remain in some areas, such as Laoag Central School, where ongoing renovations forced some of the 800 students to alternate use of the available ground floor classrooms. School principal Cornelio Jimmy Lucas expressed hope that the renovation, which includes replacing ceilings and restrooms, would be completed by the end of August, despite delays caused by the weather conditions.
The province has estimated damages to school facilities at approximately PHP5.7 million, affecting 23 classrooms across 12 schools due to the recent typhoon and monsoon rains. Repair efforts are underway to ensure all facilities are fully operational as soon as possible.