MANILA, Philippines — At least nine schools have sustained damage from the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that rocked Luzon, the Department of Education said Tuesday.
According to an initial report released by the Department of Education, eight schools in Central Luzon and one school in the National Capital Region sustained damage from the quake.
Central Luzon
- Bataan: Laukan National High School (main)
- Mabalacat City: Mabalacat Elementary School
- Pampanga: Malusac Elementary School
- Pampanga: Pio Elementary School
- Pampanga: Camias High School
- Olongapo City: Subic Central Elementary School
- San Fernando City: San Nicolas Elementary School
- San Fernando City: Sindalan Elementary School
National Capital Region
- Muntinlupa: Cupang Senior High School
Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda early Tuesday recommended declaring a state of calamity in the province.
At least 11 have been recorded killed due to the quake. Rescue operations meanwhile continue in a collapsed supermarket in Porac town.
READ: Powerful Zambales quake: Death toll rises, hunt for survivors continues
DepEd: Inspect school buildings, facilities
DepEd also issued a memorandum directing principals, school heads and teachers-in-charge to conduct a thorough inspection of school buildings and facilities before allowing students and school personnel to return to school grounds.
FOLLOW: Live updates: Effects of magnitude 6.1 earthquake
The memorandum was signed by Education Undersecretary Alain Del Pascua, upon the instruction of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Education Secretary Leonen Briones.
It also instructed engineers, architects and disaster management authorities to coordinate from its offices to assist in determining the structural integrity and safety of all DepEd buildings and facilities within 250 kilometers of Castillejos, Zambales where the Philvolcs located the quake’s epicenter.
“Only when the structural integrity and safety of buildings and facilities is assured can the learners, teachers and personnel be allowed to enter the same,” the memorandum further read. — Kristine Joy Patag with reports from The STAR/Janvic Mateo