26/08/2026
๐๐ -๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ-๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ฑ: ๐๐ข๐ก๐๐จ๐๐ง ๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ณ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐ข๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐-๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ก๐ง ๐๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ข๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐๐ง๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก
The Department of Education (DepEd), through the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS), is implementing the M7X Ready School Program, a flagship earthquake preparedness and certification initiative aimed at strengthening the readiness of schools for a magnitude 7 earthquake or greater. The program seeks to strengthen institutional and community preparedness for significant seismic events, foster a culture of safety and resilience in the basic education sector, and ensure the continuity of learning following a major earthquake. The program aims to establish earthquake-ready public schools by the end of School Year 2026โ2027.
The program utilizes the M7X Ready School Scorecard, a 100-point self-assessment instrument that evaluates school readiness through visual inspection, document review, and interviews. The assessment shall be undertaken by the school, led by the School Head with the School DRRM Team.
The school-level self-assessment shall serve as the school's initial baseline for determining its current level of earthquake preparedness, identifying strengths and preparedness gaps, and determining the areas requiring corrective or improvement measures prior to the conduct of Division-level validation.
All public elementary and secondary schools in the Schools Division Office I Pangasinan are hereby directed to conduct the M7X Ready School Self-Assessment using the M7X Ready School Scorecard (Detailed Validation Rubrics and Documentary Evidence Requirements Scoring Guide) attached as Enclosure 1. The Scorecard and its detailed requirements shall serve as the primary reference of schools in conducting the self-assessment.
The self-assessment shall be evidence-based. Schools shall ensure that the documentary, photographic, physical, and other appropriate supporting evidence corresponding to the applicable criteria and parameters are available, updated, properly organized, and readily accessible for subsequent validation.
All schools shall work toward achieving a self-assessment score of 85โ100 points, corresponding to the target M7X Ready classification. Schools shall use the self-assessment results to identify existing gaps and undertake necessary measures to address deficiencies in preparation for the succeeding validation process.
Though all schools shall accomplish the M7X Ready School Scorecard (Self-Assessment Scoresheet), attached as Enclosure 2, only schools obtaining a self-assessment score of 85โ100 points shall submit their Self-Assessment Scoresheet together with the required Means of Verification (MOVs) and other supporting evidence corresponding to the applicable criteria and parameters, to the SGOD-DRRM for validation. All photo documentations as MOVs shall be properly captioned.
Schools are reminded that the self-assessment score and submission of the accomplished Scorecard and supporting documents do not, by themselves, constitute M7X Ready School certification. The self-assessment results shall be subject to verification and validation by the Schools Division Office.
Following the submission of the school-level self-assessment results, the Schools Governance and Operations Division (SGOD), through the DRRM Unit and/or validation team, shall undertake the necessary validation of the reported assessment results and supporting evidence.
The validation shall determine whether the school's reported self-assessment results and corresponding evidence satisfactorily demonstrate compliance with the applicable M7X Ready School requirements. Validation shall include inspection and interview with random personnel and learners.
Schools that satisfactorily demonstrate compliance with the prescribed M7X Ready School requirements during the validation shall be recommended by the Schools Division Office to the Department of Education Central Office, through the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS), for M7X Ready School certification, subject to the approval of the Schools Division Superintendent and applicable DepEd procedures.
The Department of Education Central Office is expected to recognize M7X-certified schools in November 2026. In view thereof, schools intending to be considered for the initial batch of M7X-certified schools shall ensure the submission of their complete self-assessment requirements not later than September 25, 2026 to provide sufficient time for the Division validation team to conduct the necessary validation and complete the recommendation process prior to the scheduled recognition.
The September 25, 2026 deadline shall apply to schools intending to be included in the initial batch for the November 2026 recognition. Schools that are unable to meet the said initial submission schedule may still submit their self-assessment results and supporting requirements until February 5, 2027, subject to the succeeding validation and certification schedule of the Department.
Schools identified to have gaps or deficiencies during the self-assessment and/or validation shall be provided appropriate technical assistance by the Schools Division Office, as applicable, and shall undertake the necessary corrective and improvement measures toward achieving the prescribed level of earthquake preparedness and readiness.
15. School Heads and School DRRM Coordinators are advised to review the M7X Ready School Program discussion presented by Dr. Orlando B. Barachina, Project Development Officer IV, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service, particularly the discussion on the program mechanics and checklist requirements, through the following video:: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayD0Of9Kxww
A technical assistance and orientation on the M7X Ready School Program shall be included as an agenda in the forthcoming Division DRRM Meeting. The activity shall cover, among others, the self-assessment process, scoring, documentary requirements and MOVs, validation procedures, and certification process. The schedule and other details of the activity shall be announced separately.
Schools are encouraged to immediately commence the self-assessment and organize the required supporting evidence to ensure compliance with the September 25, 2026 deadline and enable the Schools Division Office to proceed promptly with the validation phase.
For clarifications and technical assistance concerning the M7X Ready School Program, schools may coordinate with the Division DRRM Coordinator, Ms. Sherry Lyn Orjalo via Messenger.
For information and compliance. Immediate and wide dissemination of this Memorandum is desired.
