MANILA -- At least 738 schools will defer the start of classes originally scheduled on July 29 due to the effects of the habagat and typhoon Carina, the Department of Education said Friday.  

Habagat rains intensified by Carina affected some 12,800 schools, of which 246 reported flooding and 425 sheltered evacuees, DepEd said. 

Most of the “severely damaged” schools are in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Central, Education Secretary Sonny Angara earlier said.  

Angara said areas that would move the start of classes include Malabon (July 31) and Valenzuela (August 5).

Marikina is also moving the school opening to August 5, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said in a separate announcement.

“Papasok pa ang information. People on the ground are verifying damages...and their ability to open on Monday,” Angara said.

“It is an evolving situation diba. Our regional directors, our assistant regional directors umiikot iyan, kinakausap ang mga mayors, kinakausap ang mga principals as to the damage nila at kung makapagsimula tayo sa July 29,” he added.

'DO EVERYTHING' TO START CLASSES ON JULY 29

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said schools should push through with the original July 29 opening of classes "as much as possible."

"If the school buildings are in a condition to take classes, they will do it. Pero meron pa talaga na kakaunti na lang ang may tubig, pero marami na nag-iwan ng putik na hindi magamit. Tapos may mga nasira na gamit, we'll have to replace them," Marcos said in a chance interview.

"It will be up to the school to decide...kung kaya o hindi. Siguro yung iba mapipilitan, they will conduct classes outside of the school building, makapagklase lang."

Marcos said he had instructed DepEd: "Gawin niyo lahat."

"Ang pagpasok, gawin niyo hangga't maaari, kung kaya niyo buksan... Hangga't maaari, open the schools and conduct classes. But there are areas na hindi talaga pwede," he said.

Carina this week exacerbated seasonal rains, which triggered widespread floods and landslides that left at least 21 dead.

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A tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of oil sank off Limay, Bataan on Thursday, with authorities racing to contain a fuel spill.

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Metro Manila has declared a state of calamity to unlock additional funds for calamity response and impose a price freeze. 

5 provinces declare state of calamity due to habagat, Carina
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