Classes in all levels were suspended in schools affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao on Monday, the Department of Education (DepEd) said, as authorities moved to prioritize the safety of learners and school personnel.
The strong tremor, which jolted Sarangani and nearby provinces, coincided with the opening of classes for School Year 2026–2027 in public schools, prompting immediate safety measures across affected regions.
In a Viber message, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said most schools implemented suspension orders following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Most schools have already suspended classes in line with PBBM’s directive. I’m here in Cotabato City now, and it does not seem as badly hit as other towns or cities, but they have suspended classes nonetheless as a safety precaution,” Angara said.
DepEd said the suspension covers all levels in quake-affected areas while structural assessments are being conducted on school buildings.
Angara said engineering teams were immediately deployed to inspect damaged and potentially affected facilities, particularly in the Soccsksargen region.
“We immediately mobilized our engineers in the affected regions, particularly in DepEd Regional Office XII, to inspect school facilities impacted by the earthquake,” he said.
“We are also deploying structural engineers from our Central Office to support damage assessments and assist our regional teams on the ground.”
Initial field reports indicated infrastructure damage in Matanao National High School in Davao del Sur, including a reported building collapse following the earthquake.
Angara assured that the department will not allow the resumption of classes unless school structures are declared safe.
“We also inspected classrooms here today following the earthquake. The safety of our learners, teachers, and school personnel remains our top priority, and we will take all necessary measures to ensure that schools are safe before classes resume,” he said.
The Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is also closely monitoring the situation and conducting its own assessments, DepEd said.
In Soccsksargen, regional education officials ordered both class and work suspensions to allow engineers and disaster risk reduction personnel to conduct thorough inspections of school buildings and offices.
“Engineers and DRRM (disaster risk reduction and management) representatives are directed to inspect and assess the structural integrity of all school buildings and office facilities before these are reoccupied,” the regional office said in a Facebook advisory.
DepEd also advised personnel to adopt temporary remote work arrangements while safety checks are ongoing.
“Personnel are reminded not to occupy buildings or office premises until the structural integrity of the facilities has been properly assessed and declared safe by the appropriate authorities,” it added.
As of 9 a.m., DepEd reported 5,893 schools affected based on data from ligtas.cair.ph, with assessments still ongoing across several regions.
Photos courtesy of Matanao National High School
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