The Department of Education (DepEd) today (02 October 2025) pledged modular kits and temporary learning spaces to ensure classes resume quickly for over 19,000 learners adversely affected by a 6.9-magnitude quake In northern Cebu Tuesday.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara led a site inspection Thursday, visiting the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy, where three buildings were declared unsafe. Officials said the scale of damage across the province was staggering.
As of October 1, DepEd reported 5,587 classrooms with minor damage, 803 with major damage, and 1,187 destroyed. More than 950 teachers and school staff were affected.
“In the middle of this tragedy, we must act quickly so learning does not stop,” Angara said. “Habang inaayos ang mga paaralan, agad tayong maghahatid ng alternatibong paraan upang may gabay at direksyon ang ating mga mag-aaral.”
DepEd is prioritizing modular learning in quake-hit areas, citing it as the most practical mode for communities with limited connectivity or unsafe classrooms. Policies on lesson packets and the Dynamic Learning Program will be finalized next week, with emergency funds for learning materials set for immediate release.
Nearly 90 EduKahon teaching and learning recovery kits were distributed during the visit. DepEd also announced that Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) will be set up in Bogo and surrounding towns to minimize lost school days, estimated at nearly one month for some learners. Early grade levels will be prioritized for limited face-to-face classes.
“Bayanihan ang susi. Dapat mabilis ang aksyon ng lahat para makabalik agad ang ating mga guro at mag-aaral sa normal na klase,” Angara stressed.
Officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other agencies joined the assessment, with reconstruction funds to be downloaded once validation of damage is completed.
Marcos assured local leaders of continued support. “Hindi ito minsanan lang. We will continue to monitor and coordinate to make sure maganda ang takbo ng rehabilitation,” he said.
