DepEd 7 struggles with funding to repair over 7,500 quake-damaged classrooms

Amid the ongoing assessment of schools affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu and nearby provinces, the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 7 is seeking financial support from both government and private sectors to repair and rebuild over 7,500 damaged public school classrooms.

Of the affected classrooms, 5,587 suffered minor damage, 803 were heavily damaged, and 1,187 were completely destroyed.

DepEd 7 Director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez reported that the agency’s current funds from the National Government are not enough to cover reconstruction expenses.

“Based on the 5th congressional district alone, the damage is already around P400 million. If you multiply that by all seven districts, so it’s already more than a billion,” he said in an interview with The Freeman.

According to the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), nine towns and cities in northern Cebu, including Bogo City, San Remigio, Daanbantayan, Medellin, Tabogon, Sogod, Borbon, Tabuelan, and Bantayan, suffered varying levels of structural damage to school buildings.

The earthquake’s epicenter, Bogo City, and San Remigio saw damage to 38 public schools.

Collapsed walls and unsafe buildings have been identified in several schools, including San Remigio National High School and Cebu Technological University Daanbantayan–San Remigio Extension.

Over 50,000 learners and at least 1,421 teaching and non-teaching personnel have been affected by the earthquake.

Jimenez confirmed that at least 12 students and two teachers were found dead in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Classes at all levels have been suspended until further notice in Carmen, Sogod, Daanbantayan, Bantayan, Bogo, Medellin, Tuburan, Borbon, and Catmon.

More funding sought

Jimenez explained that the rehabilitation process will vary based on the level of damage. 

Classrooms that are completely destroyed will need to be rebuilt, those with significant damage will undergo retrofitting, and classrooms with minor damage will be repaired.

The P240 million allocated to Cebu Province under the 2025 General Appropriations Act is intended only for new construction projects, and not for the repair or retrofitting of classrooms damaged by the earthquake.

As part of the recovery efforts, the Department of Budget and Management allocated a total of P375 million in emergency funds to Cebu. 

One-fifty million was allocated for the Provincial Government, with P75 million each for the most affected towns, including Bogo City, San Remigio, and Medellin.

Jimenez is urging collaboration between the public and private sectors to assist in rebuilding the damaged school facilities.

In the meantime, DepEd 7 will set up temporary learning spaces (TLS) to ensure that education continues while reconstruction efforts are underway.

Jimenez stated that the TLS facilities are expected to be completed within a month.

He also mentioned that several schools in northern Cebu affected by the earthquake have switched to alternative learning methods, mainly modular learning, as face-to-face classes remain unsafe in many areas.

Teachers in the affected areas can opt for special emergency leave while the state of calamity remains in effect.