MANILA, Philippines – A week after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off Sarangani, many affected schools in Mindanao began gradually returning to normalcy by conducting check-ins and other activities on Monday, June 15.
The first day of school year (SY) 2026-2027 on June 8 was immediately disrupted in the southern Philippines, prompting the suspension of classes in 9,090 schools across the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, the Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).
Under the DepEd’s new guidelines on learning continuity during emergencies, this meant that schools were under Level 4-Hinto, the level for the most severe situations.
As of Thursday, June 11, the DepEd said 5,590 schools had resumed classes, while classes in the remaining 3,500 schools, many from Soccsksargen and the Davao Region, were still suspended.
By Monday, areas in the worst-hit Soccsksargen had already lifted class suspension orders, except for General Santos City, Sarangani, and some towns in South Cotabato. Most areas in the Davao Region have also ordered the resumption of in-person classes.
