MANILA – Classes in all levels are suspended in quake-affected schools after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake jolted parts of Mindanao, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Monday.
The tremor that rocked Sarangani and nearby provinces occurred as classes officially opened in public schools for School Year 2026-2027.
In a Viber message, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said class suspensions were put in place to ensure learners’ safety following the order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Most schools have already suspended classes in line with PBBM’s directive. I’m here in Cotabato City now, and it does not seem as badly hit as other towns or cities, but they have suspended classes nonetheless as a safety precaution,” he told the Philippine News Agency.
The education chief also assured the immediate personnel deployment for rapid assessments in earthquake-hit schools in Soccsksargen.
“We immediately mobilized our engineers in the affected regions, particularly in DepEd Regional Office XII, to inspect school facilities impacted by the earthquake,” he said in a separate statement.
“We are also deploying structural engineers from our Central Office to support damage assessments and assist our regional teams on the ground.”
Initial reports recorded infrastructure damage in Matanao National High School in Davao del Sur, with a reported building collapse following the earthquake.
Angara assured that DepEd will prioritize the safety and well-being of learners, teachers, and other education personnel before the resumption of classes.
“We also inspected classrooms here today following the earthquake. The safety of our learners, teachers, and school personnel remains our top priority, and we will take all necessary measures to ensure that schools are safe before classes resume,” he said.
Angara said the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is also on close watch to assess the impact of the seismic event.
The DepEd-Soccsksargen, meanwhile, announced class and work suspension to ensure both learners’ safety and give way for thorough inspections of school infrastructures.
“Engineers and DRRM (disaster risk reduction and management) representatives are directed to inspect and assess the structural integrity of all school buildings and office facilities before these are reoccupied,” it said in a Facebook post.
DepEd personnel were also urged to opt for a temporary remote work setup while damage and safety assessments are underway.
“Students, teachers, and school personnel are advised to remain calm and prioritize their safety. Employees are encouraged to work from home, subject to the approval and guidance of their respective heads,” it said.
“Personnel are reminded not to occupy buildings or office premises until the structural integrity of the facilities has been properly assessed and declared safe by the appropriate authorities.”
The DepEd Central Office is in close coordination with all concerned regional and division offices for damage assessment, safety inspections, and report verification on the ground.
As of 9 a.m., the DepEd logged 5,893 affected schools following the seismic event, based on the ligtas.cair.ph. (PNA)
