Marcos, Angara inspect quake-hit schools in GenSan

MANILA, Philippines – Demonstrating the government’s swift and coordinated response to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Wednesday inspected two affected public schools in General Santos City to assess ongoing recovery efforts and ensure the safety of learners and teachers.

Marcos and Angara, along with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, visited Romana C. Acharon Central Elementary School and General Santos City National High School, where they received updates on infrastructure assessments and the status of rehabilitation efforts being undertaken by the government.

READ: Quake death toll exceeds 40; villages still isolated

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The visit highlights the administration’s commitment to moving quickly from assessment to action, ensuring that damaged schools are repaired, learning disruptions are minimized, and affected communities receive the support they need to recover and rebuild.

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“Habang nagpapatuloy ang assessment at validation, kumikilos na tayo. Kasabay ng pagtitiyak sa kaligtasan ng ating mga paaralan ay ang paghahanda para sa kanilang mabilis na pagkukumpuni at pagbabalik-operasyon. As the President says, Mindanao will not be left behind,” Angara said.

Earlier, engineers from the Department of Education  (DepEd) Central Office, DepEd Region XII, and local field offices conducted rapid assessments of affected schools in General Santos City to determine the structural integrity of buildings and identify immediate repair requirements.

DepEd and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have begun validating 12 schools in the city, with assessments of 13 additional schools scheduled in the coming days.

The results will guide decisions on the safe use of facilities, repair priorities, and the release of response and recovery assistance.

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General Santos City is among the areas affected by the powerful earthquake that originated near Maasim, Sarangani on June 8, coinciding with the opening of classes in public schools.

Across Region XII and neighboring regions, schools sustained varying levels of damage, including affected classrooms and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities.

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As of June 10, DepEd has recorded damage in 1,022 public schools across five regions. South Cotabato registered the highest number of affected schools at 194, followed by North Cotabato with 172 and Sultan Kudarat with 157.

Validation and consolidation of reports remain ongoing. To support immediate recovery efforts, DepEd has identified an estimated PhP245.8 million in funding requirements for clean-up, clearing operations, and minor repairs of affected schools.

Initial response funds are also being processed to enable schools to undertake urgent interventions and restore safe learning environments. A joint infrastructure safety assessment mission remains underway in General Santos City and other earthquakeaffected areas.

The ongoing joint DepEd-DPWH Infrastructure Safety Assessment extends beyond General Santos City.

Engineering teams have been deployed across Sarangani Province under a three-day validation schedule covering schools in Alabel, Malapatan, Kiamba, Malungon, and Glan.

The assessment teams are conducting on-site inspections of 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, Kiamba National High School, 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.

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Angara reaffirmed DepEd’s commitment to restoring safe learning spaces as quickly as possible, in line with President Marcos’ directive to prioritize the welfare of affected communities and ensure that education services continue despite the disruption caused by the earthquake.