The Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd 7) is pushing to accelerate the rehabilitation of public schools damaged by a powerful earthquake and a recent typhoon, but the effort is severely hampered by a lack of funds and critical technical personnel.
A Critical Funding Shortfall Hampers Recovery
During a press conference on Thursday, December 18, DepEd 7 Regional Director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez revealed that only P1.2 billion has been released for calamity response. This amount is drastically lower than the P5.5 billion the region originally requested for the repair and rehabilitation of damaged schools across the province.
"We have not even reached one-fourth of the funding we need," Jimenez stated. He warned that the available funds for the 2025 school year are nearly depleted, even as damage assessments continue.
Severe Damage from Twin Disasters
The region was hit by a 6.9-magnitude earthquake near Bogo City, Cebu, on September 30, followed by Typhoon Tino on November 4, 2025. Initial assessments from mid-October revealed the extensive scale of destruction:
- 500 classrooms were totally destroyed.
- 700 classrooms sustained major damage.
- Over 2,000 classrooms had minor damage.
The estimated cost of damage stands at approximately P4 billion. Jimenez noted that the destruction from these events was even more severe than that left by Typhoon Odette in 2021.
Logistical Challenges and Future Plans
Following the September quake, DepEd 7 prioritized Bogo City and neighboring towns in Northern Cebu. Quick Response (QR) funds worth P600 million were approved for Bogo City, with another P500 million allocated for other affected areas in Central Visayas. Schools in other locations were also damaged but were not immediately included in this first phase of funding.
Beyond financial constraints, Jimenez highlighted a critical shortage of structural engineers, including those from the DPWH, which has slowed down building safety inspections. DepEd is now considering seeking help from the private sector to expedite these evaluations.
Some school sites, like the Hagnaya Integrated Elementary School in San Remigio, have already been declared unsafe. Looking ahead, DepEd 7 is advocating for a larger budget allocation in 2026 to continue rehabilitation and hopes to begin major repairs and the construction of new classrooms for the worst-hit schools next year.
