DepEd seeks P245.8M for school repairs, cleanup in quake-hit Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education has estimated an initial requirement of P245.8 million to cover cleanup operations, debris removal, and repair work in schools affected by the recent Mindanao earthquake.

In Situation Report No. 7 on Wednesday, an estimated P215.698 million is needed to repair damaged classrooms, alongside P30.121 million allocated for cleanup and debris-clearing operations at affected school sites.Officials noted that the P215.7-million estimate currently accounts only for minor repairs—based on a standard cost of P49,000 per classroom — and is expected to rise once assessments of heavily and totally damaged structures are completed.

The combined amount represents initial recovery costs covering 1,022 public schools that reported damage to classrooms and facilities across 30 divisions in 19 provinces in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and Caraga.

DepEd data further showed that a total of 4,622 classrooms were impacted, including 4,398 with minor damage, 1,442 with major damage, 1,462 that were totally destroyed, and 146 damaged WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) facilities.

Among the most affected areas, South Cotabato logged the highest number of damaged schools with 194, followed by North Cotabato (172), Sultan Kudarat (157), Sarangani (120), and Davao Occidental (101).

The earthquake also disrupted academic operations in the region, with 4,364 classes still suspended and 4,726 resumed, depending on the safety clearance of school facilities.

Meanwhile, the DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service reported that ₱21.902 million in initial response funds have already been released for urgent interventions, even as field validation and engineering assessments continue.

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Education Secretary Sonny Angara, and Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon inspected Romana C. Acharon Central Elementary School and General Santos City National High School, which sustained damage.READ: LOOK: Marcos in GenSan to inspect earthquake damage

“While assessment and validation are ongoing, we are already taking action. Alongside ensuring the safety of our schools is the preparation for their swift repair and resumption of operations,” Angara said.

Before the visit, engineers from the DepEd Central Office, DepEd Region XII, and local divisions conducted rapid structural assessments at several schools in General Santos City to evaluate building safety and identify urgent repair needs.A joint DepEd–DPWH infrastructure safety assessment mission remains underway in General Santos City and other quake-hit areas.

Engineering teams have also been deployed across Sarangani Province under a three-day validation schedule covering schools in Alabel, Malapatan, Kiamba, Malungon, and Glan.The inspection covers priority schools including Alabel National High School, Alabel CISC, Amado Quirit National High School, Malapatan National High School, Kinam National High School, Lun Padidu National High School, Nian Integrated School, and Kiamba National High School.It also includes New Canaan Integrated School, Glan Padidu National High School, Glan School of Arts and Trades (GSAT), Tanao Bantilan National High School, Pangyan National High School, and Lumigo Integrated School. /jpv /atm