CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — The Cebu City Council has approved a resolution urging Mayor Nestor Archival, in coordination with the Local School Board and the Department of Education – Region 7, to implement in schools a flexible learning setup, which is a combination of online and face-to-face classes.
The council resolution recommending the implementation of a flexible learning arrangement is for the safety and welfare of schoolchildren who are scared and disturbed by the continuing tremors.
Councilor Edgardo “Jaypee” Labella II, during the council’s latest regular session, raised this concern citing the the series of earthquakes that the country, including Cebu City, has experienced over the past weeks.
Labella recalled that it began on September 30, 2025, when Cebu experienced a magnitude 6.9 earthquake with its epicenter in northern Cebu.
Phivolcs, at the time, recorded an Intensity 7 quake, a level classified as “destructive.” Days later, on October 10, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck off the coast of Davao Oriental.
Within these days, when these two earthquakes occurred, classes in public schools were suspended, but in between, there were some that had already resumed their classes.
“For those children who had just returned to their classes, they were the most vulnerable. The videos circulating on social media showed the fear in their faces,” Labella recalled.
He further said that panic was evident among the students, as some were caught running, collapsing, while others were crying and looking for their parents. Labella, however, stressed that the public cannot blame the parents, schools, or the local government units (LGUs) for assuming that it was already safe to resume classes.
Labella said that, while schools are prepared and equipped with disaster preparedness measures, it cannot be denied that earthquakes cannot be predicted, and may catch the people off guard. He also cited Phivolcs speculations that quakes and aftershocks may continue until December this year.
“Our children are anxious and unsettled. Wala na intawon mahimutang ang mga bata karon. As a father, it breaks my heart to see children tremble in fear every time the ground shakes,” he added.
Emphasizing this growing fear, Labella highlighted the necessity of ensuring the protection of children vis-à-vis the need to continue face-to-face classes, amid the recurring tremors.
“We are fortunate that Cebu City was praised for its swift action and for being decisive in suspending classes for an entire week,” Labella said.
While classes remained suspended across Cebu City during the tremors, Labella said the government cannot rely on “luck” alone and called for the enforcement of proactive measures, as what the approved Council resolution had endorsed to the mayor, the Local School Board, and the DepEd.
Labella’s suggestion for a flexible learning setup enables schoolchildren, especially those in the elementary level, to continue their lessons online and report to school only to submit their requirements or participate in limited in-person activities.
“There are many creative ways to make this possible. Nakasulay na man ‘ta ani sa panahon sa pandemya ug kung nagmalampuson ‘ta ato, mahimo usab nato karon,” said the councilor.
Labella added that this arrangement shall continue until Phivolcs declares that there are no more anticipated tremors or aftershocks, and schoolchildren can safely return to full face-to-face classes.
Temporary learning center
Upon knowing the devastation of classrooms in northern Cebu due to the September 30 earthquake, Governor Pamela Baricuatro vowed to support and help DepEd in building a Temporary Learning Shelter for students.
Baricuatro said the provincial government will use a portion of the donations it received to augment relief operations and assist in rebuilding and recovery efforts, particularly in the education sector.
She shared that the province is coordinating closely with the DepEd-7 to ensure that students can continue learning despite the severe damage to school buildings.
The governor, in a meeting with Cebu Province Schools Division Superintendent Senen Priscillo Paulin on Tuesday, was informed that an initial 538 schools across the province were reported damaged.
“Temporary pa to (number), pwede pa mausab depende sa ilang investigation,” she said, adding that the budget for the TLS will come from donations the province has received from partner local government units, private groups, and individuals who extended assistance after the quake.
DepEd-7 earlier estimated that the total cost of damages to classrooms and school infrastructures in Cebu has reached nearly ₱4 billion. The department is now fast-tracking the construction of TLS as an immediate solution to ensure the continuity of education.
TLS are temporary but essential structures built after disasters to bridge the gap between the immediate aftermath and the long-term reconstruction phase, ensuring that children’s education remains uninterrupted.
Aside from helping rebuild schools, Baricuatro also expressed openness to the procurement of Go Bags and Hard Hats for students and constituents across the province as part of Cebu’s disaster preparedness program.
“The moment I saw it paghatag sa Pasig, I thought—this is something that we have to have,” the governor said, referring to the Go Bags distributed by the Pasig City government, under Mayor Vico Sotto’s initiative.
Baricuatro has directed Dennis Francis Pastor, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), to evaluate the proposal and ensure that the procurement process is both cost-efficient and transparent.
She cited information from Pasig City that each Go Bag costs around P990, and said she plans to work with LGUs across Cebu to roll out a similar initiative suitable for the province’s larger scale. “Definitely, I’m for it,” the governor said.
Earlier this week, Mayor Sotto announced that Pasig City acquired emergency Go Bags at P992 each through competitive bidding—cheaper than online estimates of ₱1,200 to ₱2,000 per bag.
Each bag contains first-aid and survival essentials such as a flashlight, whistle, safety guidelines, and medical supplies to help families respond quickly during emergencies.
DepEd, Phivolcs collaboration
In light of the recent earthquakes and aftershocks that affected Cebu and Davao Oriental, the DepEd is strengthening its partnership with the Phivolcs, a collaboration aims to ensure that decisions regarding class suspensions and school safety are based on scientific data, localized risk assessments, and established structural standards.
The initiative seeks to balance the protection of learners and personnel with the continuity of classes during disasters.
“Sa usapin ng kalamidad, bukod sa maagap, dapat eksakto rin ang kilos. Kaya mahalaga ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa Phivolcs para ang bawat desisyon, mula sa pagsuspinde ng klase hanggang sa pagpapatuloy ng pag-aaral, ay nakabatay sa siyensya, hindi sa pangamba,” said Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara.
Angara, who personally inspected quake-hit areas in Cebu and Davao Oriental, emphasized the need for real-time data and institutional coordination to guide DepEd’s emergency actions.
According to the latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), a total of 2,612 classrooms have sustained major structural damage across Regions NIR, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
This underscores the urgency of structural audits and retrofitting, especially in schools located near fault lines.
DepEd and PHIVOLCS, in coordination with DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., are pushing for “over-engineered” school buildings—structures that exceed minimum safety standards—to withstand strong seismic events.
The agencies also discussed the rollout of training programs to equip regional and field offices with the skills to assess building integrity and respond effectively during earthquakes.
A proposed DepEd Command Center, linked directly with Phivolcs, is also in the pipeline. This hub would serve as a real-time monitoring and early warning system for disaster response.
DepEd is exploring the use of checklist-based protocols that automatically trigger alerts when specific hazard thresholds are met. This would enable faster, synchronized emergency responses across schools.
To combat misinformation during crises, DepEd and Phivolcs also agreed to strengthen the joint release of scientific advisories and educational materials to maintain public trust.
Angara reiterated that disaster preparedness must go hand-in-hand with learning continuity.
Under DepEd Order No. 22, s. 2024, the authority to suspend classes lies with local chief executives (LCEs), Schools Division superintendents (SDSs), and school heads—guided by Phivolcs advisories, on-ground conditions, and the school’s readiness to resume learning.
DepEd also reaffirmed DepEd Order No. 21, s. 2015, which mandates regional offices to monitor prevention, mitigation, and preparedness efforts to ensure uninterrupted education even during calamities.
Preventive suspensions, the agency emphasized, should immediately activate modular, online, or take-home learning modalities, while safety inspections are underway
| Written by Iris Hazel Mascardo, Jonnavie Villa & Caecent Noot Magsumbol
