The Department of Education (DepEd) has allotted an additional P10 million for its EduKahon program and rolled out more learning kits and financial assistance to support students and school personnel affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Monday said the additional funding would help sustain learning continuity in some of the hardest-hit areas in Region XII, particularly in the Schools Division Offices of Sarangani and General Santos City.

Under the allocation, P5 million each will be released to the two divisions to strengthen educational interventions for learners whose schooling has been disrupted by the earthquake.

The department is also deploying 100 EduKahon learning kits to evacuation centers, with 80 units sent to Sarangani and 20 to General Santos City.

The kits will be used to establish temporary child-friendly learning spaces where displaced students can continue their lessons while communities recover.

"Every disaster disrupts not only homes but also learning. Kailangang maibalik din natin ang pag-asa ng ating mga mag-aaral. Sa pamamagitan ng EduKahon, ipinapakita nating kahit nasa evacuation center, tuloy ang pagkatuto at tuloy ang pangarap," Angara said in a statement.

Each kit contains teaching and learning materials, including whiteboards, writing supplies, first-aid equipment, laptops and communication devices intended to support classroom activities in temporary learning spaces.

The latest assistance expands the department's response following the powerful earthquake that displaced thousands of residents and disrupted classes in several areas of Mindanao.

DepEd said its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service has been coordinating emergency operations, releasing response funds and implementing learning continuity measures while damage assessments and rehabilitation efforts continue.

Apart from assistance for learners, the department also announced additional financial relief for affected teaching and non-teaching personnel in Region XII.

DepEd approved a six-month moratorium on Provident Fund loan repayments for employees in the region and earmarked an additional P155 million to replenish the Provident Fund resources of affected schools divisions.

Qualified personnel may apply for loans of up to P100,000 under the DepEd Provident Fund Multi-Purpose Loan Program and up to P200,000 for hospitalization and other emergency needs, subject to existing loan guidelines and net take-home pay requirements.

The department clarified that the six-month loan payment suspension includes the nationwide three-month moratorium already in effect from 1 July to 30 September 2026, which was earlier implemented following the declaration of a State of National Energy Emergency.

DepEd said the additional funding and relief measures aim to help schools resume educational activities as quickly as possible while providing support to personnel recovering from the effects of the disaster.