Schools across Central Visayas are implementing double-shift schedules for School Year 2026-2027 to address a massive shortage of over 10,000 classrooms, the Department of Education (DepEd) 7 announced on June 8, 2026. This strategy aims to keep children in school while the region awaits new buildings and disaster repairs.
Where the Shortages Are Highest
DepEd 7 revealed that the region urgently needs thousands of learning spaces. Current data shows a backlog of 8,287 classrooms in Cebu and 1,713 in Bohol. Tomas Pastor, chief of the Education Support Services Division, noted that natural disasters worsened the crisis. A magnitude 6.9 earthquake in northern Cebu and Typhoon Tino in November 2025 left many school buildings unsafe.
“The schools affected by the earthquake have not yet fully implemented face-to-face classes. Some are still shifting because buildings have not been fully repaired,” Pastor explained.
Delays in Building New Classrooms
Fixing the classroom crisis has been slow. Six months into 2026, no new DepEd-funded classroom projects have broken ground in Central Visayas. Former DepEd 7 director Salustiano Jimenez noted that the regional office is still waiting for the Central Office to release priority project listings. To cope, schools use Temporary Learning Spaces, while the Cebu Provincial Government plans to build temporary shelters.
First-Day Fire Sparks Safety Concerns
On the first day of school, a fire broke out at Sudtonggan Elementary School in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City. The fire started at 10:46 a.m. from a defective ceiling fan turned on by mistake. Principal Precious Vano said the teacher evacuated students immediately, and faculty used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames by 10:50 a.m.
“We have teachers trained and oriented on how to use fire extinguishers,” Vano said. Investigator FO1 Vincent Rhey Reyes from the Lapu-Lapu City Fire District reported that the fire damaged 50 square meters of the ceiling. No injuries occurred, but seven adjacent rooms are now unusable pending safety investigations.
Blended Learning to the Rescue
To maintain education despite limited space, DepEd 7 relies on remote learning. Affected students in Lapu-Lapu City receive assignments and activities through digital group chats. Regional Information Officer Amaryllis Villarmia said teachers focus on essential lessons for home study.
“I don’t think it would be much of an adjustment for our students since we have been implementing blended learning since the Covid-19 period,” Villarmia said. “Even though they are not inside the classrooms, we have Alternative Delivery Modes for students to learn at home.”
Securing funding to repair damaged facilities and build permanent classrooms remains DepEd 7's top priority. Balancing student safety with the need for consistent education will be the region's biggest challenge in the months ahead.
