Salary Loan Table - RNG Coastal Bank RNG Bank offers salary loan for permanent DepEd teaching and non-teaching staff thru Automatic Payroll Deduction System (APDS). Features: 📍LOW INTEREST RATE 📍LOAN AMOUNT UP TO 500,000 📍5 YEARS MAXIMUM LOAN TERM 📍NO HIDDEN CHARGES 📍NO NEED TO GO TO THE OFFICE A Bank that is built with trust and integrity and committed to provide quality and safe banking services to its existing and future clients, RNG Coastal Bank, Inc . is a banking institution established in the year 1974. The Bank has 15 operating branches in the Visayas, 11 in Cebu and 4 in Bohol. Providing various financial products and services to its clients for almost 50 years, RNG Coastal Bank remains strong and continuously grows its number of branches to reach more Filipinos. Here are the branches of RNG Coastal Bank: RNG Coastal Bank Head Office Cor. Cabancalan Road, Talamban, Cebu City 6000 Labangon Branch Punta Princesa, (Labangon) Cebu City Asturias Branch Poblacion, Asturias, Ce...
When a 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit Bogo City, Cebu, it shook more than just the ground — it reminded everyone how vital disaster preparedness is, especially in schools. In response, the Department of Education (DepEd) is stepping up its efforts to strengthen education resilience across the Philippines. This move isn’t just about rebuilding — it’s about ensuring learning never stops, even in times of crisis.
Strengthening Schools for a Safer Tomorrow
After the recent earthquake, DepEd has rolled out a series of programs designed to make schools safer, smarter, and more disaster-ready. These include new planning tools, improved facilities, and training programs for educators.
One of the biggest steps forward is PlanSmart for Safe Schools, a web-based contingency planning app developed with the help of the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST–Phivolcs) and the World Bank.
This platform gathers real-time hazard and risk data from GeoRiskPH, allowing schools to create evidence-based safety plans aligned with national disaster standards. Basically, schools can now prepare more precisely for earthquakes, floods, and other hazards — not guesswork, but science.
Did You Know?
The Philippines experiences around 20 earthquakes a day, though most are too weak to be felt. With major faults crossing many populated regions, tools like PlanSmart can make a life-saving difference.
M7X School Ready Program: A New Standard in Earthquake Preparedness
DepEd’s next big move is the M7X School Ready Program, which focuses on earthquake readiness in both schools and DepEd offices. Recognizing the looming threat of a 7.2-magnitude quake from the West Valley Fault (WVF), this initiative will certify schools that meet safety and preparedness standards.
Schools that pass will earn the M7.2 Ready School Seal — a mark of excellence showing that both their buildings and emergency procedures can withstand strong earthquakes.
The pilot rollout will start in Metro Manila, Region III, and Region IV-A — areas most at risk due to their proximity to the WVF.
Common Question:
Q: What makes a school “M7.2 Ready”?
A: Schools are assessed on structural safety (like building design and materials) and non-structural readiness (such as evacuation routes, emergency drills, and disaster supplies).
From Relief to Resilience: New Tools and Facilities
DepEd is also focusing on long-term resilience, not just quick response. Among its latest innovations:
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Upgraded Temporary Learning Spaces (UTLS): Modular classrooms designed for continued learning while damaged schools are repaired.
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Pillar 1: Safer Learning Facilities Guidebook: A new manual promoting resilient school design and safe site selection, developed with UNICEF and Good Neighbors International Philippines.
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Training for DRRM Coordinators: Starting November 2025, over 3,000 schools in Greater Metro Manila will receive hands-on training in disaster risk reduction and management.
These efforts fall under the larger theme of EduResilience 2025, highlighted during the National DRRM x CCA Summit held in Makati City. The summit emphasized not only earthquake safety but also climate adaptation and learning continuity.
Lessons From the Ground: Cebu’s Earthquake Aftermath
According to DepEd Region VII Director Salustiano Jimenez, the recent quake caused an estimated ₱1 billion in damages to schools across Cebu. More than 50,000 students and 1,400 education personnel were affected, with Bogo City among the hardest hit.
Despite the challenges, recovery is moving forward — classrooms are being rebuilt, and communities are uniting to ensure no child is left behind in their education.
A Reflection on Preparedness
It’s easy to take everyday school life for granted — until an earthquake changes everything. What I find inspiring is how the education sector is learning to adapt, not just react. Seeing DepEd move from relief efforts to long-term resilience feels like a big step toward a safer, smarter future.
After all, preparedness isn’t just about drills or checklists; it’s about giving students the confidence that, no matter what happens, learning goes on.
Preparedness is truly the foundation of resilience. As DepEd leads the way in strengthening education resilience in the Philippines, the focus remains clear: learning must continue, even in the face of disaster.
Do you think your local schools are ready for the next big quake? Share your thoughts in the comments — let’s keep the conversation on safety and education going.