KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines — Fears of another strong aftershock has led local government and education officials here to suspend classes on Thursday, July 11.
A similar decision was reached by officials in Makilala town in Cotabato, the epicenter of the 5.6-magnitude quake that rocked the province on Tuesday evening that left a trail of cracked buildings in the province and in nearly Davao del Sur.
On Wednesday afternoon, Schools Division Superintendent Romelito Flores and Acting City Mayor Jivy Roe Bombeo agreed to call off classes in all levels, in both public and private schools, all over the city.
Flores said the Department of Education’s disaster risk reduction and management office in the city is still conducting validation on reported cracks in several school buildings.
There were minor cracks reported at the Kidapawan City Pilot Elementary School, he added.
“While we are still checking all school buildings, we decided to suspend for another day the classes in all levels,” Flores explained.
“The City Government of Kidapawan ensures the safety of our learners; thus, the suspension of classes in all levels both public and private,” Flores said in a text message circulated in the community.
“School heads, non-teaching staff, and teachers shall report to school ready to assist the Team of Engineers who will continue to inspect our school buildings. Work in offices will continue,” Flores added.
In Makilala town, Mayor Armando Quibod has also ordered the suspension of classes in all levels on Thursday, July 11.
On Tuesday evening, July 9, a 5.6-magnitude quake struck off Makilala.
It was followed by some 140 aftershocks, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the strongest of which jolted Cotabato province Wednesday morning, at magnitude 4.9. /ee
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