BORONGAN CITY — After three months of uncertainty, Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) is ready to welcome students back to face-to-face classes starting January, bringing a sense of normalcy to its campuses after the devastating 6.9-magnitude Bogo earthquake and 7.4-magnitude Manay quake that shook Eastern Samar.
The earthquakes, which struck on 30 September and 10 October, left cracks in several buildings and forced ESSU to shift to asynchronous classes for teachers and students, while non-teaching staff followed a skeletal work arrangement to ensure safety.
Now, ESSU president Dr. Andres Pagatpatan Jr. announced that the university is revoking the earlier decision to continue online learning and will resume face-to-face classes across all campuses before the end of January 2026.
“Our priority has always been the safety of our students, faculty, and staff,” Pagatpatan said. “After thorough inspections and structural assessments, we are confident we can bring everyone back safely.”
The university has earmarked over P5.2 million for detailed structural analysis and P3.5 million for immediate repairs. In addition, three temporary classroom buildings, each with eight rooms made of tubular materials, will be constructed at the main campus to accommodate students from the College of Education, College of Business Management and Accountancy and College of Engineering.
These measures come after cracks were discovered not only in the temporary buildings but also in the administration building, highlighting the need for careful planning before resuming in-person classes.
ESSU, the largest university in Eastern Samar with more than 12,000 students across seven campuses, is also exploring a double-single session setup — splitting classes between morning and afternoon — to make the best use of available classrooms while ensuring safety.
Since November, Pagatpatan has personally inspected the campuses to ensure facilities are ready, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to providing a safe and conducive learning environment as students return to campus.