The Department of Education on Thursday thanked the Government Service Insurance System and the Bureau of Treasury for providing insurance coverage to public school buildings.

The DepEd, through the GSIS-BTr collaboration under the National Indemnity Insurance Program, has secured critical assistance in the provision of a comprehensive insurance protection for public school buildings.

Through this initiative, public schools nationwide will be covered from perils brought about by fire, lightning, and natural catastrophes for one year effective 1 January 2024.

"The year 2024 truly brings renewed hope to our vision of a MATATAG nation," the DepEd said in a statement. "With the support of a whole-of-nation approach, we continue to strive for quality basic education that every Filipino learner deserves."

The GSIS, with the help of BTr, earlier said it will provide fire insurance for more than 132,000 public school buildings nationwide.

The fire insurance, worth P843.11 billion, will cover fire, lightning, and natural catastrophes for a one-year period effective from 1 January this year.

The National Indemnity Insurance Program, an initiative of the BTr, aims to provide adequate and comprehensive insurance protection to critical government assets such as schools, hospitals, roads and bridges.