554 schools in SOCCSKSARGEN incur damage from magnitude 7.8 Mindanao earthquake

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck offshore Sarangani earlier this week damaged 554 schools in SOCCSKSARGEN, the Department of Education (DepEd) reported Wednesday.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Jocelyn Andaya said all six regions of Mindanao were affected by the earthquake, with SOCCSKSARGEN being the hardest hit.

“Lahat po actually ng anim na region sa Mindanao ang apektado nito. At ang pinaka-apektado talaga ay ang SOCCSKSARGEN. As of last night, 554 schools ang apektado po nito. Yan yung may minor damage, major damage, at totally damage,” Andaya told “Unang Balita.”

(Actually, all six regions of Mindanao were affected by the earthquake, with SOCCSKSARGEN suffering the greatest damage. As of last night, 554 schools were affected, ranging from minor to major to total damage.)

She added that some schools only need minor repairs, while others need to build new facilities.

Andaya also said DepEd is coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide psychological first aid to students who were affected during the earthquake.

Both in-person and online classes remain suspended to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and staff.

“Ang iba po kasi nating mga estudyante at mag-aaral ay nasa labas pa; hindi sila makapunta sa kanilang mga bahay kasi may aftershocks pa,” Andaya said.

(Some students are still outside and cannot return home yet due to ongoing aftershocks.)

“Siguro by next week kung humupa na po, tsaka po natin sila bibigyan ng kanilang mga kailangang mga aralin,” she added.

(Maybe by next week, if things are okay, we will then provide them with their needed lessons.)

Based on DepEd’s initial report, approximately 6,224 schools in Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga were affected by the earthquake.

There are also over 3.2 million students and 128,000 teachers and personnel affected by the earthquake.

A tsunami warning was raised after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit offshore Sarangani on Monday morning, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

PHIVOLCS said the earthquake was recorded at magnitude 7 with a depth of 10 kilometers, but it was upgraded to 7.8 with a depth of 33 kilometers.

The recent earthquake has so far resulted in at least 45 fatalities.

A state of calamity has been placed in Alabel and Glan towns in Sarangani and General Santos City.

With the declaration of a state of calamity, local government units are authorized to use the calamity fund in providing relief assistance, restoring essential services, and carrying out rehabilitation efforts. — RSJ, GMA News