DEPED-7: Public schools damage due to quake may exceed P1 billion

Local

DAMAGE to public schools in Cebu Province may exceed P1 billion following the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu on Sept.30, 2025.

According to the Department of Education-Central Visayas (DepEd 7), the ongoing assessment already indicates extensive destruction across several districts, affecting both students and school personnel.

“Based on the 5th congressional district alone, the damage is already around P400 million. If you multiply that by all seven districts, so it’s already more than a billion,” DepEd-7 Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez said.

The regional office reported that more than 50,000 learners have been affected, along with 1,421 teaching and non-teaching personnel, including 887 in Bogo City.

Jimenez said Education Secretary Sonny Angara, during his Oct. 2 visit to Cebu, directed the immediate completion of the damage assessment and ordered close coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to access the Quick Response Fund (QRF) for school repairs.

“Since the QRF is with DPWH, we will coordinate with them to mobilize resources once we complete our assessment,” Jimenez said.

To sustain classes, Angara also instructed the downloading of funds for Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) in divisions with heavily damaged schools.

Each TLS is valued at P1.5 million per classroom.

“Every school that is badly hit will receive TLS. If one school needs 20 classrooms, we can at least provide five temporary ones to ease congestion,” Jimenez added.

DepEd-7 is implementing modular and alternative delivery modes (ADM) to prevent the loss of school days.

“There is no difference in calendar days since modular learning is already counted. But what is lacking is the interaction between teachers and learners,” Jimenez said.

The regional office is also set to strengthen the ARAL program for remediation classes and provide Psychological First Aid (PFA) to both teachers and students affected by the disaster.

DepEd has likewise encouraged public-private partnerships to support the repair and reconstruction of damaged facilities.

Reports from local government units show significant damage to schools in several northern Cebu towns.

In Daanbantayan, 33 school buildings were totally destroyed while 11 others sustained partial damage.

In San Remigio, several schools including San Remigio National High School, Argawanon Integrated School, To-ong Elementary School, and Lambusan National High School reported heavy damage.

In Bantayan, the historic Gabaldon Building at Bantayan Central Elementary School and the Atop-Atop Elementary School suffered severe structural damage.

Sogod town also reported that the entire Liki Elementary School complex and portions of Liki National High School are no longer safe for occupancy.

In Borbon, both the Doña Milagros High School and Doña Milagros Elementary School sustained damage, while several school buildings in Medellin and Tabogon were also affected.

Jimenez said a more complete report on the total cost of damages and the number of classrooms required for TLS will be available by mid-October or early November once the assessment is finalized.(MyTVCebu)