THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) is fast-tracking repair of affected educational facilities in the town of Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental to help restore normalcy for students and teachers.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara led an on-ground assessment of severely damaged schools in Davao Occidental on Monday, July 20.
“Napakalinaw ng direktiba ng ating Pangulong Bongbong Marcos: hindi pwedeng maghintay ang edukasyon, kaya dapat nating maibalik sa normal ang sitwasyon dito sa lalong madaling panahon,”Angara said in a statement.
“Nandito tayo para tiyakin na tuluy-tuloy ang pag-aaral ng mga bata sa kabila ng krisis,” he added.
The Cabinet officials’ visit follows a string of calamities in the region. A magnitude 7.8 earthquake centered in Maasim, Sarangani, struck on June 8, 2026, causing widespread damage across Mindanao, including Davao Occidental.
This was followed by flash floods and landslides in Jose Abad Santos on July 10 and 14, triggered by the southwest monsoon and Typhoon Inday, and another magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck again on July 14, disrupting school operations and prompting the evacuation of communities in Jose Abad Santos.
DepEd reported that at Emeliano S. Fontanares Sr. National High School in Barangay Sugal, the earthquake left eight classrooms totally damaged, six with major damage, and two with minor damage. The school’s gymnasium and concrete perimeter fencing also collapsed.
Meanwhile, no deaths were reported; one teacher and ten students were injured.
Barangay Sugal was also one of the ground zero areas of the flooding, washing away houses.
At Edna Guillermo Memorial National High School in Barangay Nuing, 31 classrooms were destroyed and three sustained major damage, affecting 780 students.
The Butulan Elementary School also sustained seven totally damaged and two minor-damaged classrooms and is currently serving as an evacuation center for displaced families.
In response, the DepEd has moved to release financial and logistical assistance to the affected schools.
The department released P3.51 million for immediate ground operations, comprising P2.061 million for clean-up and clearing operations and P1.449 million for minor repairs.
Davao Occidental has been included as a priority area for the installation of Learning Continuity Spaces (LCS) to prevent further disruption to education.
A total of 77 LCS units will be built across 23 target sites in the towns of Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, Malita, Santa Maria, and Sarangani.
DepEd also launched Psychological First Aid (PFA) sessions last week for students and teachers at Edna Guillermo Memorial NHS to support their mental and emotional well-being.
The department said it continues to coordinate with local government units, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and health authorities for ongoing relief assistance, engineering reviews, and the development of climate-resilient engineering standards for schools.
Angara was joined by Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, and Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon in inspecting affected educational facilities.
