DepEd: 26 schools damaged by quake in Bukidnon
MANILA, Philippines — A total of 26 schools were damaged by the magnitude 5.9 earthquake that hit Bukidnon on November 18, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Wednesday.
According to a report by DepEd’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS), 10 schools in Malaybalay City and 16 schools in Valencia City were damaged by the quake.
Major cracks on walls and ceilings were observed in Apo Macote National High School in Malaybalay City, the report said. The other schools, meanwhile, only had minor damage.
This photo shows the cracks on the ceiling and walls of a classroom in Apo Macote National High School in Malaybalay City. (Courtesy of DepEd’s DRRMS)
DepEd said 454,456 learners in more than a thousand schools were affected by the quake, which was felt in several parts of Mindanao.
DepEd assured its DRRMS will continue to monitor the quake’s possible effects through immediate assessment of damage in schools.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the 5.9-magnitude earthquake hit six kilometers (km) northwest of Kadingilan in Bukidnon Monday night.
