GenSan public schools stay suspended after strong aftershock

COTABATO CITY – Classes in public elementary and high schools across General Santos City remained suspended on Tuesday after a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the city on June 15.

That quake was one of the aftershocks of the June 8 powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that rocked the Soccsksargen region (Region 12) and devastated GenSan and Glan, Sarangani.

The class suspension will remain until further notice, GenSan Schools Division Superintendent Isagani dela Cruz said.

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READ: Phivolcs: Ground deformation observed in parts of Sarangani, GenSan

The suspension was issued due to the redeployment of Structural Assessment Teams to perform post-earthquake structural reassessments following the strong magnitude 6.2 aftershock.

“All division office and school-based personnel shall temporarily adopt a ‘Work From Home’ (WFH) arrangement effective 22 June 2026 until further notice,” dela Cruz said in a statement.

He added that all classes in public elementary and secondary schools shall be conducted through asynchronous learning until classrooms and other learning spaces have been re-inspected, re-evaluated, and declared safe for occupancy.

He directed all school heads to ensure that 100% of the school population (except in rare cases) should undergo the Psychological First Aid (PFA), a key component of the Department of Education’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS), before proceeding with normal learning activities.

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PFA is designed to provide immediate, humane, and non-intrusive support to learners and personnel in acute distress following emergencies or traumatic events.

Dela Cruz also ordered the members of the Division Committee and Technical Working Groups (TWGs) on Recovery and Reintegration, as well as School DRRM Coordinators, “to physically report for duty and perform their functions in designated safe makeshift workspaces outside office or school buildings, subject to existing safety and emergency protocols.”

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He added that essential personnel, including General Services personnel, shall likewise continue to report physically to provide necessary support and services.

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Dela Cruz advised personnel reporting onsite to wear comfortable attire that allows ease of movement and mobility in case of emergencies, subject to existing standards on decency and appropriateness./coa