The Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd 7) is confronting a severe infrastructure and funding crisis as it attempts to rebuild public schools in Cebu Province ravaged by a powerful earthquake and a subsequent typhoon.
A Double Disaster Worsens School Damage
The sequence of disasters began on September 30, 2025, when a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck, initially damaging around 200 public schools. The quake destroyed approximately 500 classrooms, caused major damage to 700 more, and left over 2,000 with minor issues. The estimated losses from the seismic event alone reached a staggering P4 billion.
The situation deteriorated further when Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) made landfall on November 4, 2025. Its heavy rains and flash floods compounded the existing structural weaknesses. In many institutions, what was classified as minor damage escalated into major or total destruction, pushing the rehabilitation needs far beyond initial projections.
Massive Funding Gap and Logistical Hurdles
During a press conference on December 18, 2025, DepEd 7 Director Salustiano Jimenez revealed the dire financial shortfall. The regional office has requested P5.5 billion for comprehensive repairs and rebuilding. However, only P1.2 billion has been allocated and released so far, leaving a gaping deficit.
"Dili pa gani mi kaabot og one-fourth sa among gikinahanglan nga pondo (We haven't even reached one-fourth of the funds that we need)," Jimenez stated. He added that funds for the 2025 school year are nearly exhausted.
Beyond finances, the rebuilding effort is hampered by a critical shortage of technical experts. Jimenez pointed out a lack of structural engineers within both DepEd and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to conduct essential safety assessments. Furthermore, some school sites, like the Hagnaya Integrated Elementary School in San Remigio, have been declared unsafe due to hazards like sinkholes, forcing officials to seek new locations.
Immediate Measures and Long-Term Consequences
To ensure continuity of learning, DepEd 7 has implemented several interim solutions:
- Deploying Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) – prefabricated or makeshift structures.
- Utilizing modular and blended learning approaches.
- Exploring public-private partnerships to fund classroom restoration and replace lost equipment like laptops.
Jimenez stressed that face-to-face classes remain the ultimate goal and issued a call for assistance: "Kinahanglan gyud og tabang sa LGUs ug NGOs (We really need help from LGUs and NGOs)."
The primary impact of this crisis falls on the region's approximately 700,000 students. Some schools have reported learning backlogs of up to 30 days, which may necessitate extending the school year on a case-by-case basis. Without a significant influx of funding or external aid, major repairs and new construction for many schools could be delayed until 2026, prolonging the disruption to quality education.
