Tino-hit schools in Cebu City’s north resume full face-to-face classes

CEBU CITY, Philippines — All public schools under Cebu City’s North District 8 resumed full face-to-face classes at the opening of the academic year on Monday, June 8, months after disasters damaged learning facilities across the district.

The reopening follows the completion of rehabilitation work in affected schools, allowing students to return to regular classroom instruction after disruptions caused by last year’s typhoon and a magnitude 6.9 earthquake.

Schools reopen after repairs

Dr. Lily Ann S. Go, public school district supervisor of North District 8, said repairs in schools affected by typhoon Tino were completed before the start of School Year 2026–2027.

“Some of the classrooms were [destroyed] by the typhoon, but it was already repaired…They can now fully start face-to-face classes for the opening of the school year,” Go told CDN Digital.

Go said several schools suffered significant damage during the disaster, particularly Budla-an Integrated School, where three classrooms, as well as electrical and water facilities, were affected.

READ: 600 Lusaran pupils may face shifting classes as school repairs lag

She said support from the local government helped speed up rehabilitation efforts and prepare schools for the return of students and teachers.

“We were able to surpass and we are now ready for our learners and teachers,” she said.

Schools under North District 8 include:

Talamban Elementary School,

Talamban National High School,

Budla-an Integrated School,

San Jose Elementary School,

San Jose National High School,

Bacayan Elementary School,

Guba Elementary School, and

Guba National High School.

Recovery from disasters

Aside from typhoon Tino, schools in the district also faced challenges brought by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu in September last year.

Talamban Elementary School principal Rolando N. Rebusit said a connecting bridge in a nearby community was damaged by the earthquake, making travel difficult for some students.

He added that many families living near the Butuanon River were also affected when it overflowed during typhoon Tino.

Some residents lost their homes and livelihoods, which led them to relocate and transfer their children to schools closer to their new residences.

READ: Cebu City students return to tents as damaged schools await rehab

“Ang nakanindot kay kung asa ta, naa man gyud and public schools para magpadayon pa gihapon ang pagskwela sa mga bata,” Rebusit shared.

(What’s nice is that wherever you go, there are public schools available so the children can continue their studies.)

Some schools still under repair

While schools in North District 8 have returned to full in-person classes, some disaster-affected schools elsewhere in Cebu continue to operate under alternative arrangements.

The Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd 7) said several schools, particularly in northern Cebu, still implement shifting schedules as repairs continue.

Tomas Pastor, chief of DepEd 7’s Education Support Services Division, said some schools split learners into morning and afternoon sessions to maximize available classrooms.

“Naa pa tay shifting ana because naa pa tay mga buildings na until now wala pa na fully repair. Nasabtan nato na until now naa gihapoy movement,” Pastor said in an interview.

(We still implement a shifting approach because some buildings have not been fully repaired. We understand that there is still [earth] movement in the area.)

READ: Marcos to DepEd: Ensure smooth opening of classes on June 8

To help students continue learning despite reduced classroom availability, DepEd 7 said schools prioritized essential learning competencies.

The agency also implemented alternative delivery modes and blended learning immediately after the earthquake and Typhoon Tino to minimize disruptions in education.

“It won’t be much of an adjustment for the children since we have been implementing blended learning since Covid-19 times,” said regional information officer Amaryllis Villarmia.

DepEd 7 has yet to release data on how many schools remain under repair following last year’s disasters.

Officials join opening of classes

Meanwhile, local officials visited schools across Cebu City as classes opened on Monday.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival visited his alma mater, Talamban Elementary School, where he joined the distribution of school kits to pupils.

The city government earlier pledged to provide school supplies and learning materials to around 135,000 students ahead of the opening of classes for this academic year.

The assistance forms part of the city’s education support program funded through the Local School Board.

City officials said each learner from Grades 1 to 10 will receive a backpack containing notebooks, pencils, and erasers.

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