575 SCHOOLS DAMAGED BY EARTHQUAKES — DEPED
/ 12 October 2025
THE DEPARTMENT of Education reported that an initial assessment showed 575 schools were damaged by the recent earthquakes in Cebu and Davao.
DepEd estimated the total repair cost at around ₱2.23 billion.
Engineers and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) coordinators from DepEd’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service are conducting rapid site inspections in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the agency will expedite the repair of affected schools.
“Hindi na puwedeng maghintay pa ng dalawang taon bago dumating ang tulong,” Angara said. “Kapag nasira ang paaralan, dapat mabilis ang aksyon, dahil bawat araw na nasasayang ay isang araw na hindi nakakapag-aral ang mga bata.”
As of 9:00 a.m. on October 11, DepEd reported that 1,006 schools have been affected by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck offshore near Manay, Davao Oriental on Friday. The tremor impacted around 100,000 learners and 10,000 teachers across several regions.
A total of 139 learners and 50 teachers were reported injured.
For safety, 97 percent of the affected schools suspended classes on Friday to allow for structural inspections.
To date, ₱139.4 million in assistance has been released for typhoon-hit schools in Masbate, while validation and damage assessments continue in Cebu and Davao Oriental.
