Bohol deploys rescue teams, P5 in aid for quake-hit Mindanao

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—The provincial government of Bohol will deploy rescue teams and send financial aid to Mindanao following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck the SOCCSKSARGEN region on June 8.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered all relevant government agencies to take immediate action following the earthquake, which struck offshore near Sarangani.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) convened a special meeting on June 8 at the Provincial Capitol, presided over by Vice Governor Nicanor Besas.

It brought together representatives from provincial offices, national government agencies, and humanitarian organizations to discuss measures to assist those affected.

Discussions centered on the province’s planned deployment of personnel and resources to support response operations in the affected areas.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Dr. Anthony Damalerio said Bohol will deploy two Search, Rescue, and Retrieval (SRR) teams to assist in relief and response efforts.

One team of five rescue personnel and one driver will be assigned to Sarangani province, while another team with the same composition will go to General Santos City. Both teams are scheduled to depart on June 9, 2026.

The council recommended approving financial assistance for affected local government units through the province’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund.

Provincial Budget and Management Officer Peter Retutal presented the proposed package: ₱2 million for General Santos City, ₱1.5 million for Sarangani province and ₱1.5 million for South Cotabato.

The provincial government will also launch a donation drive for Bol-anons to help affected communities.

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) was also tasked to organize a medical team for possible deployment to the affected areas.

Boholanos stand with Mindanao

In a separate statement, Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado expressed sympathy and solidarity with the earthquake victims.

“Makasubo ang nakita nato nga trahedya mahitungod sa pagtay-og sa yuta nga nasinati sa atong mga higala sa Mindanao, ilabi na sa habagatang bahin niini (It is heartbreaking to see the tragedy of the earthquake that our friends in Mindanao experienced, especially in the southern part),” he said.

Aumentado, who is in Canada along with other governors for Governance for Climate and Disaster Resilience activities, said Bohol stands firmly with the people of Mindanao.

“Kita sa Probinsiya sa Bohol, nibarog kuyog sa mga pinalangga natong mga Mindanawon nga karon nag-atubang sa usa ka dakong hagit. Ato silang i-ampo nga makatindog pag-usab, ug kita kanunay'ng andam nga mutabang, mubarog, ug makiglambigit,” Aumentado said.

(We in the Province of Bohol stand with our beloved Mindanawons who are currently facing a great challenge. Let us pray for them to rise again, and we are always ready to help, stand, and engage). (ECB/PIA-7 Bohol)

Following the Magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao, the Bohol Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) convened a special meeting on June 8, 2026, at the Governor’s Office in Provincial Capitol, bringing together representatives from concerned provincial offices, national government agencies, and humanitarian organizations to discuss measures to assist those affected by the earthquake. (ECB/PIA-7 Bohol)

DepED expects enrolment

To decline in SY 2026-‘27

TAGBILARAN CITY Bohol (PIA)—The Department of Education (DepED) Division of Bohol sees a 0.9 percent reduction in enrolment for school year 2026-2027, and it has nothing to do with learners dropping out.

For reasons not related to how school authorities handle schools, enrolment this school year should be declining with some 7000 less, and that is because there are fewer kids getting to kindergarten than before.

“Maybe it has something to do with family planning,” DepED Bohol schools Division superintendent Dr. Fay Luarez shared over at Kapihan sa PIA.

DepED Bohol Values Education Program Supervisor and Information Officer Lope Hubac shared the same observation.

“We have been going around schools supervising, and one thing became clear, we used to have full kindergarten classes. Now it is only about three or four kids,” Dr Luarez pointed out.

Last school year 2025-2026, enrolment at DepED Bohol reached 301,962 learners from public and private schools kindergarten to Grade 12 in senior high school.

But for DepED, despite a low turn-out in enrolment, bot officials are happy to announce that of the few enrolled in the province’s kindergarten

This year, the division only expects 294,962 learners participating school, authorities said.

And if the declining enrolment is becoming a concern, with class orientations starting Monday, June 8, a physical report from the division office says the schools have managed to get 188,494 of the 294,962 expected enrolees.

As of July 4 at 8:05 AM, there are 111,203 pupils enrolled in the public elementary schools, 44,329 in Junior High Schools and 15,804 in the public school’s Senior High School, for a sum of 171,336 enrolees, according to the school’s superintendent.

This is 62.56 percent of the total expected enrolment.

In the private schools, as of the beginning of the third day of enrolment, private schools also reported 4,711 enrolled in the elementary schools, 9,241 enrolled in the Junior High School and 3,206 in the senior High Schools.

That makes a total of 17,157 enrolees in the private institutions, or some 47.26 percent of the expected number.

To this, Dr. Luarez urged parents and students to be enrolled within the week, as those who enrol late as class schedules would immediately start on Monday.

Even with the potential decline, Division of Bohol officials have good news to take that with.

While there are fewer kids getting enrolled in kindergarten, what we are very thankful of is that, based on the academic performance last year, kids getting to the elementary schools are better trained.

“In their performance, based on the assessment that we gave them, we saw they got a better educational foundation,” the superintendent bared. (PIAbohol)

TRIUMPH IN EDUCATION? For years, the government has been campaigning for responsible family planning and apparently, this has its fruits now that DepEd is seeing fewer kids getting to kindergarten. Bohol is set to experience decline of about 7,000 learners, which could technically ease up the perennial problem of lack of classrooms in schools. (PIABohol)