July 22, 2026
Tzu Chi conducts ocular at earthquake-hit schools in Glan, Sarangani
By Thania Florendo
More than a month after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck communities in Southern Mindanao, Tzu Chi volunteers and staff from Manila and Davao, led by Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez, visited Glan, Sarangani, on July 20, 2026, where thousands of students continue to learn outside their regular classrooms.
Following the foundation’s relief efforts in the communities of Jose Abad Santos and Glan on June 27, the visit aimed to explore ways to rebuild safe classrooms for students whose education was disrupted by the disaster.
Among the damaged institutions is Margus Elementary School (MES), which has 640 learners from kindergarten to Grade 6. The school sustained major structural damage and needs 14 classrooms to resume face-to-face classes, according to a report from the Municipal Engineering Office.
“The classrooms were a safe space for our students. The students get to learn more in school with comfortable and convenient facilities. We have many struggling readers, and we really want to help them learn,” MES Principal James Nick Besana said.
The students currently rely on modular learning, but the school aims to implement blended learning by the end of July, combining face-to-face classes with online learning.
The team also visited Valeria B. Lopez Integrated School (VBLIS), which previously had 18 functional classrooms. However, the earthquake and subsequent strong aftershocks damaged 10 classrooms, with some sustaining major damage that requires extensive repairs. The damage has severely affected 541 students from kindergarten to senior high school.
“With the current modality, parents receive modules of their children weekly and submit them the following week. We hope we can return to full face-to-face classes because learning is more effective when we can personally supervise our learners,” VBLIS Principal Peter Lito Piquero said.
The faculty is working on its Learning Continuity Plan to implement blended learning and gradually restore normalcy for students and teachers. Following the visit, Principal Peter Piquero expressed his gratitude and remained hopeful to receive the highly sought assistance.
“We were amazed. It felt like the visit from Tzu Chi is a godsend—that amidst the trials and hardships, people are acting as instruments to address the classroom shortage and help the students.”
For Tzu Chi Davao OIC Nelson Chua, the visit was a meaningful response to the call of Dharma Master Cheng Yen, who wanted the affected schools assessed so Tzu Chi could explore ways to help rebuild safe and welcoming learning spaces for students.
“We hope to receive everyone's support and hope that we can complete the rebuilding of these schools.”
Tzu Chi volunteers from Davao and Manila arrive in General Santos City on July 19, 2026.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez (center) leads the planning ahead of the visit to earthquake-affected schools in Glan, Sarangani.
Tzu Chi volunteers, led by the foundation’s CEO Henry Yuñez, receive a warm welcome from Malapatan National High School Principal Maximo Cabanlit.
Previously damaged by an earthquake in 2023 and later renovated, this building at Malapatan National High School sustained severe damage from the recent earthquake and is now set for demolition.
Tzu Chi volunteers and staff visit Margus Elementary School, where 640 learners continue through modular learning.
Tzu Chi Davao OIC Nelson Chua (left) and Engr. Crisanto Encarnacion assess the damage and discuss plans for possible reconstruction.
Margus Elementary School Principal James Nick Besana (fifth from left) shared that they face challenges in printing learning modules due to frequent brownouts amid an unstable electricity supply following the earthquake. The entire faculty remains hopeful in recovery and restoring normal learning operations.
Classrooms once stood in this space but now only demolished structures remain after the buildings were totally damaged by the earthquake.
Tzu Chi volunteers and staff pose for a group photo with the entire faculty of Margus Elementary School.
Another school that Tzu Chi visited in Glan is the Valeria B. Lopez Integrated School, which has 541 enrolled students.
VBLIS Principal Peter Lito Piquero (in black and orange shirt) welcomed the volunteers and led them on a tour of the severely damaged campus.
The walls and ceilings of several classrooms collapsed.
Tzu Chi volunteers carefully assess the damage to determine how they could best help the school recover.
VLIS Principal Peter Lito Piquero (right)provides the number of functional classrooms and identifies those that could no longer be salvaged.
The earthquake caused the heavy concrete walls to crack and collapse, leaving the structure in ruins.
The earthquake caused the heavy concrete walls to crack and collapse, leaving the structure in ruins.
A place once filled with learning now stands reduced to rubble.
Engr. Crisanto Encarnacion Jr. (in green) accompanies Tzu Chi volunteers in surveying damaged sites and possible areas to rebuild new classrooms.
Tzu Chi volunteers and staff pose for a group photo with the faculty of Valeria Lopez Integrated School to commemorate the visit.
Principal Margie Morales (left) welcomed the team of Tzu Chi volunteers to Leonardo Young Sr. National High School and led them on a tour of the campus.
Large cracks were visible across the area, raising concerns that the school campus may be situated along a fault line.