DepEd helps teachers rebuild homes destroyed by 7.8-quake
Published Jun 22, 2026 04:29 pm
A TEACHER’S house in Barangay Ilaya, Glan, Sarangani, destroyed in the magnitude-7.8 earthquake on June 8. (DepEd-Sarangani)
DAVAO CITY – The Department of Education in Sarangani province is raising funds through “Project Tahanan: Adopt-A-Teacher” to help teaching and non-teaching personnel rebuild houses totally destroyed in the recent 7.8-magnitude earthquake.
The fund-raising drive aims to help them have simple but dignified temporary shelters, giving them a safe place to rest, recover, and rebuild, according to DepEd-Sarangani Division.
Initiated by Dr. Donna Panes, Curriculum Implementation Division (CID) of DepEd-Sarangani, the initiative was eventually adopted by the DepEd-Sarangani as Project Tahanan: Adopt-A-Teacher.
Panes said that 192 teachers and non-teaching personnel were among the over 6,000 families who lost their homes in the earthquake in Sarangani on June 8.
Over two weeks since the earthquake devastated many parts of the province, hundreds of teachers are still living under makeshift tents.
When she launched the donation drive in Facebook account on June 13, Panes initially appealed to fellow teachers to raise P20,000 for every affected DepEd personnel in the province.
During their initial assessment, about 80 teachers were listed. The number rose to 192 after further verification. Many of the affected teachers are in Glan and Malapatan.
Panes explained that while the teachers may have access to emergency loans from the government, many of them are still paying short-term loans. “These loans funded their dream houses that are now destroyed. Most especially the relatively new teachers,” she added.
Panes said that they have carefully evaluated beneficiary teachers according to their economic situation, adding that the top 20 recipients are all breadwinners of their families. She said that some of the recipients are living with extended families.
Project Tahanan has raised P800,000 for 41 personnel. Many of the donated funds came from different DepEd personnel from different provinces. Some also came from different private individuals.
The affected teachers, Panes explained, are wearing two hats: As a breadwinner and at the same time as a teacher. “How can the teacher teach when she is still living under a tent?”
She added that by providing the teacher a decent temporary shelter, it can help ease the worries of the teacher and focus on performing her job.
While face-to-face classes are still suspended, DepEd-Sarangani is implementing an alternative learning mode while emergency protocols are still in effect in the province until the end of the month. Learners are utilizing modular and online modalities.
Panes said teachers have the gargantuan task during and after the earthquake struck as they served as first responders.
She added that the teachers also played a vital role in facilitating essential needs of the displaced families especially in the remote villages. “Despite their own struggles, they remain committed to serving their learners,” she emphasized.