DepEd Caraga brings relief to earthquake-stricken Sarangani schools, community
By Niña Jonalyn B. Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — ‘CaraCares: Mission Compassion’– an initiative of the Department of Education (DepEd) Caraga, under the leadership of Regional Director Maria Ines C. Asuncion – has extended assistance to hundreds of beneficiaries affected by previous natural disasters.
This
time, the mission expands to Malapatan in Sarangani province – a municipality
roughly an hour and a half away from the epicenter of the devastating
magnitude-7.8 earthquake on June 8.
A convoy
of 11 vehicles loaded with relief goods and school supplies endured an
eight-hour journey from Butuan City to Malapatan, Sarangani, bringing
much-needed aid to teachers, learners, and local communities.
Director
Asuncion, together with DepEd Caraga regional office division chiefs and
schools division superintendents, personally led the distribution to embody the
Caraganons’ values of hospitality and genuine care, especially for those most
affected by the recent earthquake.
A total
of 200 teachers and 600 learners from Malapatan Central Elementary School
(MCES) and Malapatan National High School (MNHS) received food packs, rice,
hygiene kits, and school supplies—critical sustenance for families displaced
and homes destroyed by the disaster.
Beyond
the schools, 80 residents from the Muslim community of Napu Sapu Masla were
also given rice, groceries, household items, and cash assistance amounting to
₱85,000.
DepEd’s
strengthened partnership with private stakeholders further amplified relief
efforts, with contributions (in cash and kind) augmenting the agency’s resources.
“In times
of crisis, education extends beyond the classroom. Through CaraCares, we bring
not only relief goods but also hope, healing, and reassurance that our
learners, teachers, and communities are not alone,” said Asuncion, striving to
bring comfort to the beneficiaries as mandated by President Ferdinand R. Marcos
Jr.
Recognizing
the importance of holistic recovery, CaraCares also deployed mental health
professionals to provide psycho-social support to students, ensuring that both
physical and emotional wellness were addressed after the trauma brought by the
quake.
As the convoy departed Malapatan, it left behind more than supplies—it left a renewed sense of hope. In the faces of children clutching their new school supplies, in the gratitude of teachers who felt seen and supported, and in the quiet relief of families who received food and care, the journey became more than just eight hours on the road. It became a powerful reminder that compassion travels any distance, and that in the heart of every crisis, solidarity lights the way forward. (NJGD, PIA Caraga; Photo courtesy of Dr. Violeta Nuñez of DepEd Caraga)
