BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Education Secretary Sonny Angara, and other national government officials on Thursday visited Bogo, Cebu to provide immediate assistance and assess the impact of the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that damaged thousands of classrooms and communities in northern Cebu.

President Marcos led the situation briefing together with Sec. Angara and other Cabinet Secretaries, including Secs. Rex Gatchalian, Vince Dizon, Christina Frasco, and Teodoro Herbosa. They also assessed the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy, one of the hardest-hit campuses, where at least three buildings were not declared safe for occupancy.

“Hindi ito minsanan lang, we will continue to monitor, we will continue to coordinate with the local leaders here to make sure maganda ang takbo ng rehabilitation and support na binibigay natin,” President Marcos said.

As of 11 p.m. on October 1, the Department of Education (DepEd) reported 5,587 classrooms sustained minor damage, 803 major damage, and 1,187 were totally destroyed in Cebu schools, affecting more than 19,000 learners and 950 teaching and non-teaching personnel.

“Sa gitna ng trahedya, kailangan mas maagap tayong tumulong para hind rin maputol ang pag-aaral ng ating mga mag-aaral. Habang inaayos ang mga paaralan, agad tayong maghahatid ng alternatibong paraan upang may gabay, pag-asa, at direksyon silang mahahawakan,” Angara said.

Subject to further validation by field offices, a vetted list will then be endorsed for joint DepEd-DPWH validation to determine costs. The department noted that reconstruction funds will be downloaded immediately.

The DepEd chief also distributed nearly 90 EduKahon teaching and learning recovery kit.

Angara also assured parents and teachers that education will continue after immediate emergency measures are addressed, stressing that DepEd will rely primarily on modular learning, the most practical mode for communities with damaged classrooms or limited connectivity. Policies on lesson packets and the Dynamic Learning Program are also set to be finalized next week, with emergency funds for learning materials to be released right after.

The DepEd Learning Systems Strand (LSS) is also coordinating with Schools Division Superintendents for context-specific interventions once immediate emergency measures are addressed.

To minimize lost school days, estimated at about one month in the hardest-hit areas, DepEd will also establish Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) in Bogo and nearby Cebu towns to prioritize early grade learners and resume limited face-to-face classes sooner.

“Bayanihan ang susi. Dapat mabilis ang aksyon ng lahat para mas mabilis din makakabalik ang ating mga guro at mag-aaral sa normal na klase,” Angara said.

DepEd also said that those in affected areas declared under a state of calamity may avail of Special Emergency Leave under CSC rules. The department added that unaffected regions are mobilizing resources to extend support, including financial aid, to affected teachers.

*All Photos from DepEd