Post-quake, classroom safety a priority

The Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) said they are prioritizing the safety of school buildings before students will be admitted back to class.

DepEd-7 Asst. Regional Director Carmelita Dulangon said they ordered the resumption of classes in Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor yesterday morning.

However, some classes were suspended in schools like Abellana Elementary School and San Roque Elementray School in Talisay after classroom walls were cracked during last Monday’s magnitude-5 earthquake (6.9 in Negros Oriental) that struck Cebu Island.

Dulangon said the ongoing school building inspections are to assure safety when classes resume.

In Mandaue City, classes in 17 elementary schools and high schools also suspended their classes yesterday as they waited for city engineering officials to inspect their school building.

“They decided not to. Padayon pa man gud ang atong pag-inspection. Pipila gyud sa mga school buildings ang naay mga liki,” said Councilor Demetrio Cortes, chairman of the Committee on Education in Mandaue City.

After the ocular inspection, the councilor yesterday recommended to Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes to stop holding classes in several classrooms of Opao Elementary School and Cabancalan National High School for their rehabilitation.

While Umapad and Paknaan Elementary schools, Paknaan National High School and Casili Elementary School needed immediate repairs.

He said he would also draft a resolution for the immediate release of funds from the P50-million emergency fund for the rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, most classes in Negros Oriental are still suspended, especially in Tayasan, Guihulngan, Ayungon, Jimalalud and La Libertad, which incurred the largest damage of the quake.

Dulangon said school superintendents would asses the situations in their divisions and determine if classes should resume.

For Negros Oriental, Dulangon said the schools are also coordinating with the local government unit and the disaster council to solve the concerns of the schools like damaged classrooms, inaccessible roads and lack of food supply on some areas.

As of yesterday, DepEd- 7 was still consolidating the damages incurred by the schools.

Dulangon said schools in Negros Oriental were mostly damaged, while some classrooms in Cebu reported cracks in walls and foundation./Reporter Candeze Mongoya, Correspondent Fe Marie Dumaboc