SINUSPINDE ng Department of Education (DepEd) ang klase sa General Santos City dahil sa 7.8-magnitude na lindol na sumira sa isang paaralan doon.

“Based on the initial report, one building, the Matanao National High School in Davao del Sur, collapsed after the earthquake.

Because of the effect of the earthquake and aftershocks, classes at all levels in affected areas in Mindanao were suspended on orders of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” sabi ng DepEd sa statement.

Nagpadala na si Education Secretary Sonny Angara ng mga engineers para ma-inspect ang mga facilities sa earthquake-hit areas sa Mindanao.

Nasa Cotabato City si Angara kasama ang mga opisyal ng Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) nang maganap ang lindol.

“The safety of our learners, teachers, and school personnel remains our top priority, and we will take all necessary measures to ensure that schools are safe before classes resume,” sabi ni Angara.

Itinuloy ni Angara ang pagbisita sa mga paaralan sa BARMM sa kabila ng lindol. proceeded with scheduled site visits to spearhead

Binisita niya ang Notre Dame Village Central Elementary School sa Cotabato City, ang BARMM Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) at ang BARMM Ministry of Health (MOH).

“Through this collaboration with our BARMM counterparts, we are ensuring that our learners are fully supported not just academically, but also emotionally, socially and physically,” dagdag ni Angara.

Kahit nasa ilalim ng MBHTE ang mga paaralan sa BARMM, may oversight powers ang DepEd sa lahat ng paaralan sa rehiyon.

Nasaksihan din ng DepEd secretary ang paglulunsad ng YAKAP at Kalinga Caravan sa BARMM, na joint initiative ng DepEd at Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Naghatid ng libreng medical check-ups, vision screenings, dental services at iba pang essential medicines ang YAKAP caravan sa Notre Dame Village Central Elementary School at Kurintem Elementary School sa Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.

Umabot sa 200 learners, teachers at magulang ang nakinabang sa mga tulong ng caravan.

Ininspeksyon din ni Angara ang mga dineliver na gamit sa tulong ng World Bank sa ilalim ng $110 million Teacher Effectiveness and Competencies Enhancement Project (TEACEP).

Nagbigay ang DepEd ng 46 digital tablets sa Notre Dame Village Central Elementary School na may naka-install na DepEd’s Likha mobile learning app na magagamit ng mga kinder hanggang Grade 6 students.