The Department of Education has committed P1 billion specifically for repairing and rebuilding school facilities in Cebu that sustained damage from the powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the region on September 30, 2025.
Funding Allocation and Prioritization
During the Regional/National Investment Programming Dialogue held on November 26, education officials confirmed that the substantial budget will be drawn from DepEd's Quick Response Fund. Elizar Sabinay Jr. from the Cebu Provincial Planning and Development Office emphasized that the allocation specifically targets earthquake-related damages during a November 28 interview.
"P1 billion is allotted for schools damaged because of the earthquake. This is for the earthquake alone," Sabinay stated clearly. The funding will prioritize totally damaged school buildings, particularly those affected in Bogo City and other earthquake-impacted areas of Cebu.
Collaborative Assessment and Future Planning
DepEd and the Department of Public Works and Highways will work together to identify and prioritize schools requiring reconstruction under the QRF program. Sabinay explained the challenging reality facing education infrastructure: "There are around P4 billion-plus worth of damaged schools. So, in terms of prioritization, we can't really provide everything. We can't cover the entire amount."
The strategic approach involves using the P1 billion QRF allocation for completely destroyed structures, while partially damaged schools may receive support through DepEd's regular annual repair budget and additional funding from the Cebu Provincial School Board, Local School Board, and individual local government units.
Additional Funding and Long-term Solutions
In a significant complementary move, the Cebu Provincial School Board has approved over P700 million for teachers, equipment, and selected school rehabilitation projects. This creates a comprehensive approach to restoring educational services across the province.
For schools requiring full reconstruction that cannot be accommodated in the current budget cycle, Sabinay noted that QRF applications can be submitted again in 2026, since the fund receives annual replenishment. "If it's totally damaged, it can still be applied for QRF next year," he assured.
The scale of damage was documented in an October 14 SunStar Cebu report, which revealed that DepEd Central Visayas identified 700 classrooms with major damage, 500 completely destroyed classrooms, and over 2,000 classrooms with minor damage throughout the region.
