The Department of Education (DepEd) is turning to digital technology to strengthen disaster preparedness in schools, unveiling a suite of new tools — including a Web-based planning platform and an online safety guidebook — designed to make the country’s education system more resilient to calamities.
The move follows the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Bogo City, Cebu, which caused more than ₱1 billion in estimated damage to schools and affected over 50,000 learners and 1,400 personnel.
At the center of DepEd’s new digital strategy is PlanSmart for Safe Schools, a Web-based contingency planning tool that allows schools to develop risk-informed emergency plans.
Built with support from the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST–Phivolcs) and the World Bank, the platform draws data from GeoRiskPH, the national system for mapping hazards and exposure.
By combining geographic information and hazard analytics, the system enables school officials to assess potential risks and create contingency plans aligned with the standards of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Training for the platform will begin in November 2025, covering more than 3,000 schools in the Greater Metro Manila Area before expanding nationwide.
DepEd also introduced the M7X School Ready Program, a digital-enabled certification system that evaluates earthquake preparedness in public schools.
The program will award an “M7.2 Ready School Seal” to institutions that meet both structural and non-structural safety standards, particularly those near the West Valley Fault.
Complementing these tech-driven initiatives is the Pillar 1: Safer Learning Facilities Guidebook, a digital resource promoting resilient design, site selection, and maintenance practices.
Developed with UNICEF and Good Neighbors International Philippines, the guidebook provides schools with practical guidance for climate-resilient, inclusive, and child-safe infrastructure.
To ensure continuity of learning in disaster-hit areas, DepEd also rolled out Upgraded Temporary Learning Spaces (UTLS) — modular, tech-ready classrooms that can support blended or digital learning while damaged facilities are being repaired.
DepEd secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that the use of digital tools is now integral to the country’s preparedness strategy.
“Kapag may sapat na kagamitan, pagsasanay, at pasilidad ang ating mga paaralan, makakatiyak tayo na magpapatuloy ang pag-aaral kahit sa gitna ng sakuna,” Angara said.
