The Department of Education (DepEd) is expanding its response to communities affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao with additional interventions for displaced learners and education personnel, including a PHP10 million allocation for the EduKahon program, the deployment of 100 EduKahon learning kits to evacuation centers, and expanded financial assistance for affected employees.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara approved an additional PHP10 million to support the implementation of the EduKahon program in the Schools Division Offices of Sarangani and General Santos City, with PHP5 million allocated to each division. The funding will strengthen learning continuity initiatives and provide educational support to learners whose schooling has been disrupted by the earthquake.
Complementing this assistance, DepEd is also dispatching 100 EduKahon learning kits to evacuation centers in the affected areas. Of the total, 80 units were delivered to the Schools Division Office of Sarangani and 20 units to the Schools Division Office of General Santos City to establish child-friendly learning spaces where displaced learners can safely continue educational activities while communities recover.
“Every disaster disrupts not only homes but also learning. Kailangang maibalik din natin ang pag-asa ng ating mga mag-aaral. Sa pamamagitan ng EduKahon, ipinapakita nating kahit nasa evacuation center, tuloy ang pagkatuto at tuloy ang pangarap,” Angara said.
DepEd’s EduKahon contains various learning and teaching tools and materials, including whiteboards, pens, paper, first aid kits, laptops, and other communication devices tailored to specific learning disruptions.
The latest interventions complement the Department’s ongoing response and early recovery efforts in earthquake affected communities. Since the disaster struck, DepEd, through its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS), has mobilized emergency response teams, released response funds, deployed learning continuity resources, and initiated rehabilitation efforts to help restore safe and conducive learning environments.
DepEd is likewise strengthening its financial relief measures for teaching and non-teaching personnel affected by the recent earthquake in Region XII.
The Department has approved a six-month moratorium on Provident Fund loan payments for affected personnel in Region XII. In addition, DepEd has allocated an additional PHP155 million to augment the Provident Fund loan resources of the affected Schools Division Offices, ensuring the continued availability of financial assistance to qualified personnel.
Eligible personnel may avail themselves of loans of up to PHP100,000 under the DepEd Provident Fund Multi-Purpose Loan Program and up to PHP200,000 for hospitalization and other emergency needs, subject to the usual net take home pay (NTHP) verification and existing Provident Fund guidelines.
The Department has already implemented a nationwide three-month moratorium on Provident Fund loan payments from July 1 to September 30, 2026, in connection with the declaration of a State of National Energy Emergency. For affected personnel in Region XII, this three-month period forms part of the approved six-month moratorium and shall not be treated as an additional or separate relief measure.
These additional interventions build upon the Department’s ongoing relief and recovery efforts in earthquake-affected communities, reinforcing DepEd’s steadfast commitment to ensuring learning continuity while safeguarding the welfare and well-being of its personnel.
