Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) has cleared public schools in most earthquake-affected areas of Region 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN) to resume classes, while continuing structural safety inspections and mental health interventions nearly two weeks after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that devastated parts of southern Mindanao.The June 8 earthquake, whose epicenter was traced to Maasim, Sarangani, prompted the government to place the country&#x27;s disaster response system under Full Red Alert as authorities conducted rescue, relief, and damage assessment operations across Regions 9, 11, 12, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). DepEd earlier announced that class suspension may last for months as many are still at evacuation centers. &quot;Mukang tatagal din ito ng ilang buwan kasi nasa evacuation centers pa yung iba. Yung ibang walang mauwian. So, pati teachers damay dito,&quot; Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in an interview on June 10.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/10/no-classes-in-8k-schools-as-authorities-check-damage-from-mindanao-quake-deped-0950">Classes in quake-hit Mindanao areas could be suspended for months — Angara</a></div>Based on DepEd monitoring as of June 16, the earthquake affected 142,821 learners and 7,406 personnel across Region 12, with 39 Schools Division Offices coordinating response efforts.Under DepEd&#x27;s Learning Continuity in Emergencies framework, schools in Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacurong, and Sultan Kudarat transitioned to the &quot;Hayo&quot; phase on June 15, allowing the resumption of learning activities once learners, teachers, and communities are deemed safe.However, schools in General Santos City and Sarangani remain under &quot;Hinto,&quot; or temporary suspension of academic learning, pending further advisories from local government units and the completion of recovery and safety measures.Angara said the agency&#x27;s response remains anchored on ensuring the safety and well-being of learners and school personnel.“Sa ganitong sitwasyon, alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, hindi lang tanong kung kailan babalik ang klase. Ang mas mahalaga ay ligtas ba ang paaralan, handa na ba ang learners at teachers, at may sapat ba silang suporta,” Angara said.“Kailangan sabay ang structural safety, learning continuity, at psychosocial support para makabangon ang schools nang maayos,” Angara added.The earthquake struck on the first day of classes for many schools in Mindanao, forcing widespread suspensions and disrupting education for hundreds of thousands of learners. Initial assessments by authorities showed extensive damage to school facilities across the region, while structural inspections were prioritized before any resumption of face-to-face classes.A total of 1,396 schools reported classroom damage, including 1,950 totally damaged classrooms, 2,098 classrooms with major damage, and 6,065 classrooms with minor damage.DepEd also recorded 2,342 schools with active class suspensions and 6,748 schools that had already resumed classes, subject to local safety conditions and advisories.To support safe reopening, the agency continues to conduct structural inspections in coordination with local government units, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and local engineering offices.In General Santos City, one of the hardest-hit urban centers near the earthquake&#x27;s epicenter, 115 out of 119 schools had undergone inspections as of June 15, with 76 schools already cleared for occupancy.DepEd has identified P352.3 million in immediate response requirements for clean-up operations, debris clearing, and minor repairs.The agency is also rolling out 109 Learning Continuity Spaces to ensure learning can continue while damaged classrooms undergo repairs.Beyond physical rehabilitation, DepEd said psychosocial recovery remains a major priority as communities continue to cope with the trauma caused by the earthquake and its prolonged aftershocks, which experts have warned could persist for weeks.As of June 16, a total of 671 Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) facilitators had been mobilized across Region XII, while 2,972 DepEd personnel had undergone MHPSS-related training, including Psychosocial First Aid.Learner and teacher well-being checks, Kumustahan sessions, Psychosocial First Aid, and other support activities are ongoing in affected schools.In Koronadal City alone, partial reports showed that Kumustahan sessions reached 1,160 teaching and non-teaching personnel, while two-day psychosocial interventions benefited an estimated 35,000 learners.DepEd also convened the Education Cluster on June 15 to coordinate assistance from development partners and humanitarian organizations for affected learners, teachers, schools, and communities.The support includes education in emergency interventions, child protection services, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance, psychosocial support, reporting mechanisms, and longer-term recovery efforts.Angara stressed that the return to normal school operations must remain gradual and responsive to conditions on the ground.“Gusto nating makabalik ang mga bata sa pag-aaral, pero hindi natin puwedeng madaliin kung hindi pa ligtas ang classroom o kung hindi pa handa ang learners at teachers,” he said.DepEd said it will continue working with regional offices, schools division offices, local governments, DPWH, and education partners to validate damages, accelerate school recovery efforts, implement learning continuity measures, and provide sustained support for the well-being of affected learners and personnel.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/17/death-toll-from-mindanao-quake-rises-to-68-as-33-remain-missing-1256">Death toll from Mindanao quake rises to 68 as 33 remain missing</a> </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/17/ppa-resumes-limited-operations-at-gensan-port-following-deadly-quake-1946">PPA resumes limited operations at GenSan port following deadly quake</a></div>

The Department of Education (DepEd) has cleared public schools in most earthquake-affected areas of Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN) to resume classes, while continuing structural safety inspections and mental health interventions.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has cleared public schools in most earthquake-affected areas of Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN) to resume classes, while continuing structural safety inspections and mental health interventions.

DepEd clears most Region 12 public schools to resume classes after earthquake

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DepEd clears most Region 12 public schools to resume classes after earthquake

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 19, 2026 03:24 PM PHT

Read More:

Mindanao

DepEd

Earthquake

Classes

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