Tacloban City, June 8 -- About 55,000 basic education students in this city returned to school on Monday as classes officially opened for the new academic year.

Department of Education (DepEd) Tacloban Schools Division Superintendent Sherlita Palma said the opening of classes across the city's public schools proceeded smoothly after weeks of preparation.

"I have seen students' excitement on the first day of classes after two months of vacation. Our schools are ready following the conduct of Brigada Eskwela, where parents, teachers, local communities, and private-sector partners worked together to clean and repair classrooms," Palma told the Philippine News Agency on Monday.

Palma led the first flag-raising ceremony of the academic yea...