By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) has mobilized emergency response teams and structural engineers across Mindanao following the powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that affected thousands of schools and millions of learners in the region.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara directed the immediate activation of DepEd’s Quick Response and Emergency Teams to assess damage in schools located near the earthquake-hit areas, particularly in Sarangani and neighboring provinces.
To speed up inspections, the department dispatched engineers from regional offices and deployed additional structural engineering specialists from its central office to conduct safety evaluations of school buildings and other educational facilities.
Initial reports showed that at least 6,224 schools across five regions in Mindanao were affected by the strong tremor, prompting large-scale inspections and damage assessments.
The earthquake’s impact extends to an estimated 3.2 million students and more than 128,000 teachers and school personnel, making it one of the largest education-sector responses in recent years.
DepEd said field teams are currently gathering detailed information on the condition of classrooms, school grounds, and administrative buildings to determine the extent of the damage.
The department emphasized that ensuring the safety of learners and school personnel remains its top priority as aftershocks continue to be reported in several affected areas.
School facilities found to have structural defects or safety concerns will undergo further evaluation before classes are allowed to resume.
DepEd is coordinating with local government units, disaster risk reduction offices, and school officials to facilitate inspections and implement necessary precautionary measures.
As assessments continue, DepEd assured affected communities that government assistance is being prepared for the repair and rehabilitation of damaged educational facilities.
The agency said resources have already been identified to support restoration efforts and minimize disruptions to learning once the full extent of the damage is determined.
Officials are expected to release updated assessment reports in the coming days as inspection teams complete their work across the quake-hit regions.
The department likewise appealed for patience and cooperation from parents, teachers, and students as authorities work to ensure that schools are safe before normal classroom operations resume.
ia/xf
