MAKATI CITY, 2 Oktubre 2025 – Agad na nagmomobilisa ang Department of Education (DepEd) ng tulong para sa mga paaralan at komunidad na apektado ng mga nagdaang kalamidad, kabilang ang 6.9 magnitude na lindol sa Bogo, Cebu, at pinsalang dulot ng Bagyong Nando at Opong.

Sa pamumuno ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., inilunsad ang mga relief operations ng pamahalaan upang suportahan ang mga pamilyang naapektuhan, gayundin ang mga mag-aaral sa mga lugar na sinalanta ng kalamidad. Sa Masbate City, pinangunahan ng Pangulo kasama si Kalihim ng Edukasyon Sonny Angara at iba pang opisyal ng pamahalaan ang pamamahagi ng tulong sa mga pamilya, lokal na pamahalaan, at iba pang benepisyaryo sa Nursery Elementary School nitong Miyerkules.

Kabilang dito ang Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) na nagkakaloob ng tig-PhP10,000 sa 600 pamilya, at dalawang tseke na may kabuuang halaga na higit PhP34.8 milyon mula sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region V para sa Livelihood Assistance at Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program para sa 6,455 benepisyaryo sa 11 bayan.

Sa Gonzaga, Cagayan, personal ding nag-abot ng ayuda ang Pangulo sa mga magsasaka at pamilyang naapektuhan ng Bagyong Nando. Bumisita rin siya sa Alfonso Ponce Enrile Hospital upang tiyakin ang pagpapatupad ng Zero Balance Billing. Nakilahok din ang DepEd sa PhilHealth YAKAP Caravan sa Santa Ana Fishery National High School na naghatid ng serbisyong medikal, food packs, at learner kits para sa mga guro, mag-aaral, at magulang.

Bumisita rin si Kalihim Angara sa mga apektadong paaralan sa Cagayan at La Union at binigyang-diin ang kahalagahan ng paghahanda ng mga paaralan at komunidad laban sa sakuna.

“Tungkulin natin na mabilis na tugunan ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na at sunod-sunod ang pananalasa ng mga kalamidad. Kailangan nating tiyakin na agad maayos ang mga nasirang paaralan at maibalik ang ligtas at normal na klase sa lalong madaling panahon,” ani Angara.

Samantala, iniulat ng DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service na humigit-kumulang 250 silid-aralan ang napinsala dahil sa lindol na tumama sa Hilagang Cebu noong Martes, Setyembre 30. Batay sa Situation Report ng DepEd nitong Oktubre 1, alas-9 ng umaga, naiulat ang pinsala sa mga rehiyon ng 6, 7, 8 at Negros Island Region (NIR), na nakaapekto sa mahigit 2,200 mag-aaral at 90 personnel.

Para naman sa Bagyong Opong, nakapagtala ang DepEd ng tinatayang 1,101 silid-aralan na may bahagyang pinsala at 312 na tuluyang nasira, na nakaapekto sa humigit-kumulang 13 milyong mag-aaral sa buong bansa.

Sa isang panayam sa radyo, sinabi ni Undersecretary for Operations Malcolm Garma na handa ang mga apektadong paaralan na ipatupad ang learning recovery measures sa sandaling pahintulutan ng sitwasyon. Hinikayat din niya ang mga katuwang ng DepEd na makiisa sa layunin nitong agad maibalik ang normal na takbo ng mga paaralan.

“Sa parte po ng DepEd, we are making sure na yung lost days for learning ay ma-recapture o ma-recover namin. Pero pagdating sa mga istruktura, muli, kami po ay nananawagan sa aming counterparts sa DPWH at sa mga lokal na pamahalaan kung paano natin ito matutugunan,” ani Garma.

Bilang pangmatagalang tugon, inilulunsad ng DepEd ang ilang programa gaya ng PlanSmart for Safe Schools Application, Pillar 1 Guidebook on Comprehensive School Safety, M7X Project para sa multi-hazard preparedness, at Upgraded Temporary Learning Spaces (UTLS) upang matiyak ang tuloy-tuloy na edukasyon sa panahon ng emerhensiya.

Tiniyak ng DepEd na kabilang sa mga plano sa recovery ang pagbibigay ng pansamantalang silid-aralan, tulong para sa mga apektadong mag-aaral at guro, at pagpabilis ng rehabilitasyon ng mga paaralan katuwang ang iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno at mga lokal na pamahalaan.

 

ENGLISH VERSION

DepEd mobilizes swift response in typhoon and earthquake-hit areas

MAKATI CITY, 2 October 2025 – The Department of Education (DepEd) is mobilizing immediate assistance to schools and communities affected by the recent disasters, including the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Bogo, Cebu, and Typhoon Nando and Opong.

Through the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., government relief operations were launched to support families and learners in disaster-hit areas. In Masbate City, the President, together with Education Secretary Sonny Angara, and other government officials, distributed various aid to affected families, local government units, and other beneficiaries during his visit to the Nursery Elementary School in Masbate City on October 1.

These include the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) of PhP10,000 each for 600 families, and two (2) checks totaling over PhP34.8 million from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region V to the Provincial Government of Masbate for Livelihood Assistance and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) for 6,455 beneficiaries in 11 municipalities.

In Gonzaga, Cagayan, the President also personally delivered aid to farmers and families affected by Typhoon Nando in Cagayan, alongside a visit to Alfonso Ponce Enrile Hospital to ensure the implementation of Zero Balance Billing. DepEd also joined the PhilHealth YAKAP Caravan at Santa Ana Fishery National High School, providing medical services, and food packs and learner kits to teachers, students, and parents.

Secretary Angara, who also visited affected schools in Cagayan and La Union, stressed the importance of preparing schools and communities to withstand disasters.

“Tungkulin natin na mabilis na tugunan ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na at sunod sunod ang pananalasa ng mga kalamidad. Kailangan mapaigting natin ang koordinasyon ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno upang maibalik ang ligtas at normal na klase sa lalong madaling panahon,” Angara said.

Meanwhile, the DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service reported around 250 classrooms sustained varying degree of damages following the earthquake that hit Northern Cebu late Tuesday, September 30. Based on its Situation Report as of October 1, 9am, the earthquake damages were recorded in Region 6, 7, 8 and Negros Island Region (NIR), and affected around 2,200 learners and 90 personnel.

For Typhoon Opong, DepEd recorded about 1,101 classrooms with minor damage and 312 totally damaged, affecting some 13 million learners nationwide.

In a radio interview, Undersecretary for Operations Malcolm Garma said affected schools are ready to roll out learning recovery measures as soon as conditions allow. He also called on education stakeholders to work with DepEd in its mission to immediately restore normalcy in school communities.

“Sa parte po ng DepEd, we are making sure na yung lost days for learning ay ma-recapture naming o ma-recover namin. But for structures, again, we are also appealing to our counterparts in DPWH and of course the Local Government Units kung paano po natin tutugunan,” Usec. Garma said.

To strengthen resilience in the long term, DepEd is rolling out programs such as the PlanSmart for Safe Schools Application, the Pillar 1 Guidebook on Comprehensive School Safety, the M7X Project for multi-hazard preparedness, and Upgraded Temporary Learning Spaces (UTLS), designed to ensure uninterrupted education during emergencies.

DepEd assured that recovery plans include the provision of temporary learning spaces, support for affected learners and teachers, and closer coordination with national and local partners to fast-track school rehabilitation.

END