Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3qV6ChZLOrE" title="PANOORIN: Mga eksena sa loob ng Manay National High School nang tumama ang magnitude 7.4 na lindol" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>DAVAO ORIENTAL — Following the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/10/10/powerful-quake-strikes-off-davao-oriental-0955">doublet earthquake that struck Davao Oriental</a> last week, affected schools admitted that resuming face-to-face classes would be a challenge. At Manay National High School, the sight of destruction welcomes anyone entering the school gates. In surveillance footage released by MNHS to ABS-CBN News, the tremor on Friday morning instantaneously put students and teachers in a state of panic — all scrambling for open ground. Videos showed students on upper floors, heading for doors and the stairs. MNHS Principal Gema Francisquete was in a meeting on the upper floor when the earthquake struck. She was seen running towards the stairs in panic before falling down several flights, debris quickly falling on her. “Nahulog ako sa hagdanan. Tapos ang mga bato, may mga debris na natamaan ako. Mabuti hindi sa ulo. Natamaan ako dito. Masakit talaga sir. Ito masakit talaga kasi may mga pasa,” she said. (I fell off the stairs. Then there were rocks and debris that hit me, fortunately not on the head but here on my arm. It really hurts. This part is sore and bruised.)<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/11/what-is-a-doublet-earthquake-phivolcs-explains-twin-quakes-that-rattled-davao-1214">What is a doublet earthquake? Phivolcs explains twin quakes that rattled Davao</a></div>Several days after the quake, the schoolbags of children could still be found in damaged classrooms, where ceilings, walls and blackboards have collapsed to the floor. Notebooks were still on desks, opened to the page of the last lesson when the tremors took place, as if waiting for their owners to once again flip the sheets. Francisquete knows these books and other belongings of their students will remain in the abandoned classrooms for a while — the cracks in them a stern warning not to enter. Once filled with joy and vibrant with chatter and laughter, MNHS is now eerily silent. The absence of a structure to house their students&#x27; learning puts to fore a challenge — the loss of school days. Based on a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, out of the 180 teaching days for academic year 2023-2024, over 50 days were lost due to calamities.“Sa ngayon may memorandum na wala na munang klase until may clearing na from DPWH. Sa ngayon dapat naka-modular muna kami. Pero mukhang mahihirapan kami kasi nagbagsakan yung mga gamit, aklat, modules nagbagsakan. Then hindi man kami makaakyat dito,” Francisquete said. (Right now there’s a memorandum suspending classes until the buildings are cleared by DPWH. Right now we will do modular learning. But even this will be a challenge because some of the equipment, books and modules are still inside the rooms.)On Saturday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara visited Davao Oriental along with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian.  The education chief said measures were in place to minimize the impact of damaged schools on students’ learning. “May quick response fund. Pinapasa namin sa DPWH for the repairs and reconstructions. Ia-asses ng mga structural engineers kung safe siya,” he said. (We have a quick response fund. We pass this on to the DPWH for the repairs and reconstructions. Structural engineers will assess whether the buildings are safe.)“Tapos meron tayong mga education kits na binibigay sa mga bata. We have a thing called temporary learning space na mga two weeks i-set up. Tignan namin kung paano dalhin dito.”(We also have education kits that will be given to children. We have a thing called temporary learning space that takes two weeks to set up. We will see how we can bring them here.) Data from the Department of Education show that as of October 11, close to 100,000 learners have already been affected by the double earthquake with 137 and 49 learners and teachers hurt, respectively. Like Manay District Hospital, Manay National High School is an essential structure offering primary services to residents. Not only does it serve as a place to foster learning but it also caters to residents seeking refuge from extreme weather, which is why educators appeal for quick action to put these structures back to their original state.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/10/11/why-the-cebu-quake-was-more-destructive-than-the-one-in-davao-oriental-1537">Why the Cebu quake was more destructive than the one in Davao Oriental</a></div>

Following the earthquake that struck Davao Oriental last week, affected schools admitted that resuming face-to-face classes would be a challenge.

Following the earthquake that struck Davao Oriental last week, affected schools admitted that resuming face-to-face classes would be a challenge.

Resumption of classes a challenge for schools affected by Davao earthquake

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Resumption of classes a challenge for schools affected by Davao earthquake

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 13, 2025 12:25 PM PHT

Read More:

Earthquake

Davao Oriental

Manay National High School

classes

face to face classes

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