INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Classes in five areas in the Visayas that were affected by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake have been canceled until Friday.
At a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Jocelyn Saw, representative of the Department of Education, identified the areas as Bohol province, Dumaguete City, Tagbilaran City, Cebu City and Cebu province.
Classes in Siquijor would remain suspended until further notice.
Engineers were earlier deployed to check on affected areas and find out if the school buildings are safe to use.
No damages were reported in Tabaco City, Sorsogon City, Masbate City, Iriga City and Catanduanes in Region 5; La Carlota City, Aklan, Antique, Roxas City and Cadiz City in Region 6; Bogo City and Tanjay in Region 7; Leyte, Southern Leyte; Ormoc; Calbayog; Eastern Samar; Tacloban and Northern Samar.
Thirty schools were damaged in two regions, Saw said, adding that two of their regional offices were also damaged.
A number of schools in Bohol were also used as evacuation centers: Hacienda High School in Alicia, Carmen Elementary School and Antiquera Elementary School.
There are 2,719 elementary and secondary schools located in Bohol and Cebu.
Saw said they would identify priority areas for assessment in coordination with city engineers and the Department of Public Works and Highways.
They would also prepare alternative learning sites for unsafe classrooms and those utilized as evacuation centers.