On October 4, 2025, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Cebu, damaging buildings, displacing more than 170,000 people, and suspending classes across the province. Just six days later, on October 10, a 7.4 magnitude quake hit off Davao Oriental, sending shockwaves through Mindanao and all the way to the Visayas — a stark reminder that the southern Philippines sits atop one of the world’s most seismically active zones.
From Cebu’s towering campuses to Davao’s citywide evacuations, the events of these weeks have done more than damage concrete; they’ve shaken the foundations of how education operates in VisMin.
Cebu, Mandaue and Lapulapu: From Campuses to Screens
In Cebu City, Mandaue and Lapulapu, universities and colleges quickly responded to structural concerns. The University of Cebu issued an advisory announcing that all classes will remain online from October 13–19 “to ensure continued safety and preparedness.”
Meanwhile, Cebu Normal University (CNU) became the face of the crisis when its Academic Center for Arts and Sciences (ACAS) was found tilting and lacking an occupancy permit. The administration confirmed plans to demolish the structure and rebuild a ₱1.45-billion, 20-storey earthquake-resilient complex. CNU has now shifted to full online modality for the rest of the academic year, with exams and graduation set to take place virtually.
In Mandaue City, Mayor Jonkie Ouano announced a suspension of all face-to-face classes until further notice, directing public schools to adopt Alternative Delivery Modes (ADM) and private institutions to follow suit. Smaller schools like ACLC Mandaue may be structurally safe, but they cannot reopen until cleared by the Office of the Building Official (OBO) — meaning most will continue online for at least the rest of October, if not beyond.
Davao: The City That Stood Ready
Hundreds of kilometers south, Davao City once again demonstrated its preparedness. When the 7.4 quake hit Davao Oriental at 9:43 a.m. on October 10, the shaking reached Intensity 5 in the city. Hotels, malls, and schools — including Radisson Blu Cebu — swiftly evacuated as a precaution.
But unlike Cebu, no casualties were reported in Davao City, largely thanks to the quick response of the Davao 911 system, widely recognized as the most efficient in the Philippines. While nearby Davao de Oro and coastal areas of Davao Oriental sustained damage and triggered temporary evacuations, the city itself resumed partial operations within hours.
Still, educational institutions in Davao are taking a safety-first approach, with temporary online classes implemented in several colleges while structural integrity checks are ongoing.
According to SunStar Davao, the City Government of Davao and DepEd Davao City Division jointly announced a suspension of face-to-face classes on Monday, October 13, across all public and private schools. In compliance with Division Memorandum OSDS–2025–281, schools were instructed to shift to blended learning modalities for that day, ensuring that learning continued without physical risk.
All teaching and non-teaching personnel — except for Schools Division Office (SDO) staff and school heads assessing earthquake responses — were directed to work from home to monitor online or modular lessons. Large gatherings were also temporarily suspended, part of the city’s broader precautionary measures.
By Tuesday, October 14, both regular classes and office work resumed, following safety inspections by the City Engineer’s Office and Disaster Risk Reduction teams.
As SunStar Davao reported, the coordinated effort between DepEd Davao City and the City Government reflected the city’s “culture of readiness” — a phrase often echoed in post-disaster briefings and civic education programs.
Beyond the Mainland: Samal Island Takes Precautions
Across the channel, the Island Garden City of Samal also declared a suspension of all classes on October 13, both public and private, due to the series of aftershocks felt across the island.
The city government emphasized that the suspension was intended to protect students and allow engineers to inspect school facilities and public structures. The City Engineer’s Office, together with local disaster response units, immediately conducted building assessments to ensure classrooms remained structurally sound before reopening.
Residents were urged to remain vigilant and to follow only official advisories from local authorities — a reminder that even smaller communities are not exempt from the far-reaching effects of the Davao Oriental quake.
As one local educator told SunStar Davao,
“We’ve always known Davao is earthquake-prone — but this one reminded us why preparedness must be part of the curriculum.”
Rural vs. Urban Education: Unequal Ground
In rural towns across Northern Cebu, Compostela Valley, and Davao de Oro, most schools are low-rise or single-story structures — some even built as temporary learning spaces. Structurally, these campuses often recover faster than their urban counterparts surrounded by densely packed high-rise buildings.
Yet, their challenge lies elsewhere: connectivity. For many students in rural Visayas and Mindanao, online learning remains a privilege rather than a ready alternative. Weak mobile signals, limited internet access, and a lack of digital devices widen the educational gap.
Thus, while urban schools quickly transition online for safety, rural schools struggle to move online at all. In remote barangays, teachers revert to printed self-learning modules, SMS-based instructions, and community learning hubs — echoing the Alternative Delivery Modes (ADM) of the pandemic years.
In these areas, education remains anchored in human connection: teachers walking from house to house, parents collecting learning kits, and communities ensuring that learning doesn’t stop — even when Wi-Fi does.
The Emerging Future: Hybrid and Disaster-Ready Education
If the pandemic digitized learning, these earthquakes are forcing the system to mature. VisMin’s education sector is now learning to adapt in three crucial ways:
1. Earthquake-Resilient Infrastructure
Universities and colleges — from Cebu Normal University (CNU) to private institutions like University of Cebu and University of San Carlos — will face stricter structural audits and retrofitting mandates. Expect new national guidelines on occupancy permits, safety inspections, and earthquake-resilient architecture, especially for older or taller campuses. Schools may soon be required to submit annual safety certifications before reopening for on-site classes.
2. Hybrid Learning as the Norm
Online learning is no longer just an emergency fix. It is becoming a standard educational pillar. As CNU, DepEd Davao City, and other VisMin schools adopt temporary online modes, a hybrid future is emerging — one where students attend both digital classrooms and physical campuses, depending on conditions.
This shift encourages investments in learning management systems, teacher digital training, and community-based connectivity programs that make education more flexible and resilient.
3. Mental Health and Trauma Support
Both Cebu and Mandaue LGUs have announced psychosocial therapy programs for students affected by recent earthquakes. Similar initiatives are expected to expand across Davao, Samal Island, and nearby provinces.
In the near future, psychological first aid may become a standard component of school disaster-response protocols, integrated into guidance counseling, class advisory periods, and teacher preparedness training.
However, this should go beyond short-term interventions. There is an urgent need to deploy more guidance counselors in every school — not just to manage crisis situations, but to nurture mental well-being and emotional resilience in the long run. Likewise, theology and life coaches can play a crucial role in helping students find purpose, hope, and moral grounding in uncertain times.
By building support systems that care for both the mind and the spirit, schools can create communities that are not only academically strong but also emotionally and morally equipped to face the next challenge — whatever form it takes.
Projected Education Timeline: VisMin After the Earthquakes (as of October 2025)
Based on advisories and current conditions, here’s what’s likely to unfold:
| Timeline | Cebu & Mandaue (Urban Centers) | Davao City & Davao Oriental | Rural VisMin (Northern Cebu, Davao de Oro, Compostela Valley, etc.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13–31, 2025 | Full online or ADM classes remain in effect. Structural audits by OBO and city engineers ongoing. Private schools with smaller, low-rise buildings may request gradual reopening after inspections. | Temporary online and blended learning continues. Most schools to resume limited face-to-face by mid- or late-October, depending on building clearance. | Primarily printed modules and ADM, due to limited internet access. Classes may resume face-to-face earlier in safe, low-risk areas. |
| Nov–Dec 2025 | Gradual hybrid reopening for schools cleared by engineers; others remain online. Universities like CNU and UC likely to continue remote learning for the semester. | Hybrid model expands — most colleges reopen with safety drills and structural reinforcements. Davao Oriental schools slowly transition back. | Majority back to in-person classes using community-based learning hubs. Focus on rebuilding temporary classrooms and improving connectivity. |
| Jan–Mar 2026 | Permanent hybrid systems institutionalized. Online learning becomes a standing option for risk management. New safety guidelines and retrofitting plans implemented. | Full reopening, but hybrid readiness maintained as part of disaster preparedness. Integration of psychosocial programs and earthquake drills. | Focus on resilience: teacher training on ADM, emergency learning continuity, and local disaster-proof facilities. |
| Apr 2026 onward | City governments push for earthquake-resilient infrastructure and stricter school compliance with occupancy permits. | Disaster-ready education model shared across Mindanao. Davao becomes a benchmark for quick response and adaptive learning. | Sustained modular learning support in remote areas; calls for stronger connectivity and counselor deployment. |
Note: The timeline presented here is an informed prediction based on current developments, official statements, and public reports. It aims to help readers visualize potential outcomes for schools in Cebu, Davao, and rural VisMin. Actual class schedules and modalities will depend on formal advisories from education and local authorities.
Conclusion: Rebuilding Beyond Walls
The earthquakes of 2025 revealed how fragile — and how strong — Philippine education can be.
From the skyscrapers of Cebu to the coastal barangays of Davao Oriental, from the city grids of Mandaue to the small learning hubs of Samal, teachers and students are proving that education can endure even in shaking ground.
As VisMin transitions toward hybrid and disaster-ready education, one thing is clear — resilience is not only about infrastructure, but also about adaptability, compassion, and the shared commitment to keep learning moving forward.
📚 References
- BBC News. Strong 7.4 magnitude quake hits southern Philippines. (Oct. 10, 2025)
- Inquirer Visayas. Davao earthquake forces evacuation in malls, hotels in Cebu City. (Oct. 10, 2025)
- IFRC. Philippines: Cebu Earthquake Situation Update. (Oct. 2025)
- Ang Suga Publication (CNU). Campus No Use: Full Online Modality & ₱1.45B Reconstruction Plan. (Oct. 2025)
- University of Cebu Official Advisory. (Oct. 11, 2025)
- Mayor Jonkie Ouano, Official Facebook Advisory. Suspension of Face-to-Face Classes in Mandaue. (Oct. 11, 2025)
- SunStar Davao (2025, October 11). DepEd Davao City: Class Updates After the Recent Earthquake.
- City Government of Davao (2025, October 11). Guidelines on Class and Office Operations Following the Recent Earthquake (Division Memorandum OSDS–2025–281).
- City Government of the Island Garden City of Samal (2025, October 11). Class Suspension Announcement.