President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspected the earthquake-damaged Malapatan National High School in Sarangani on Monday to assess recovery efforts following the magnitude 7.8 tremor on June 8. The Department of Education (DepEd) reports that while 5,590 schools have resumed classes, 3,500 remain suspended, primarily in the Davao Region and Soccsksargen, as authorities coordinate repairs and teacher support.
Status of quake-hit schools
The impact of the June 8 earthquake remains widespread across the education sector. According to the DepEd, 3,500 schools across the country are currently under active class suspension. In Sarangani alone, seven schools—including sites in Glan, Maitum, and Malapatan—are functioning as evacuation centers. Malapatan National High School, which serves 2,408 students and 129 personnel, sustained significant damage, including 22 destroyed classrooms that require immediate intervention.
Support for displaced teachers
Beyond classroom infrastructure, the administration is focusing on the welfare of educators displaced by the disaster. President Marcos has directed the DepEd to compile a comprehensive list of affected teachers to facilitate housing and financial assistance through the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). Education Secretary Sonny Angara noted that many teachers lost both their homes and property, characterizing the support as a necessary step to help communities recover.
Recovery and inter-agency coordination
The government is moving toward a centralized response strategy to manage the reconstruction of damaged facilities. Following the site visit, officials conducted an inter-agency situation briefing at the General Santos City Oval Plaza to assess recovery progress. Secretary Angara stated that the administration intends to prioritize safe and orderly school reopenings. Future recovery efforts could involve accelerated inter-agency coordination to fast-track the repair of classrooms and critical infrastructure, such as the Sarangani Provincial Hospital and the Sapo Masla Bridge, which were also inspected by government officials.
