The Department of Education (DepEd-6) has instructed all public schools in Western Visayas to equip students and teachers with emergency “Go Bags,” reinforcing earthquake preparedness amid recent tremors that shook the Visayas and Mindanao.
In a regional memorandum issued Monday, Oct. 13, Assistant Regional Director Cristito Eco directed all Schools Division Offices (SDOs) to tap their 2024 and 2025 disaster preparedness and response funds for the procurement and distribution of Go Bags to learners and personnel.
“These Go Bags are essential for quick response during disasters,” said DepEd-6 information officer Hernani Escullar Jr. “They contain basic survival items and ensure that our learners and staff are ready for any emergency while in school.”
Escullar said the initiative aligns with DepEd’s ongoing disaster-readiness campaign following consecutive major earthquakes — the magnitude 6.9 quake in Cebu and the magnitude 7.4 tremor in Davao Oriental — that triggered class suspensions and safety checks across affected regions.
He explained that the contents of the Go Bags will vary depending on the division’s available funds and will be finalized by Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) focal persons.
“If budgets fall short, schools may coordinate with local government units (LGUs) and community partners to complete the supplies,” Escullar said. “This initiative is more than a directive — it’s about cultivating a culture of preparedness.”
DepEd-6 also ordered all SDOs to work closely with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to assess the structural integrity of classrooms and offices, ensuring safety for both learners and teachers during in-person classes.
Western Visayas is home to 964,067 public school learners and about 47,000 teachers, according to the latest DepEd data.
“Preparedness saves lives,” Escullar emphasized. “A simple Go Bag can mean the difference between chaos and calm when disaster strikes.”IMT
