DepEd: 140 public schools in villages transected by West Valley Fault

Video by Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net

As Metro Manila braces for the “Big One,” the Department of Education (DepEd) said that there are 140 public schools within the barangays (villages) transected by the 100-kilometer West Valley Fault.

READ: Do you live in quake zone? New Phivolcs maps trace 100-km West Valley Fault

Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC assured that all schools buildings constructed after 1992 are structurally sound.

“There are 140 public schools in the barangays along the (West Valley) Fault. Based on our inspections, buildings built after 1992 are all okay and we do not doubt their structural integrity,” Luistro said in Filipino in a press conference on Tuesday.

Luistro also identified five public schools which are transected by the fault line: Barangka National High School in Marikina City, Alabang Elementary School, Pedro Diaz High School and Buli Elementary School in Muntinlupa City and Anne Claire Montessori in Taguig City.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Director Renato Solidum Jr. warned that it is possible that the number of schools which lie directly at the fault line could increase as private schools have not yet been accounted for by the DepEd.

Solidum clarified that not all 140 public schools lie at the fault line.

“Hindi ibig sabihin na binanggit ni Bro. Armin (Luistro) ‘yung barangay ay ‘yung eskuwelahan ay tinatamaan na (ng fault line),” he said.

Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro. Photo by Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net

(It doesn’t necessarily mean that just because the village was mentioned by Bro. Armin that the schools there sit on the fault line.)

The Education secretary said that three of the five schools which are directly traversed by the West Valley Fault will open on June 1, while Anne Claire Montessori will open on June 8.

Meanwhile, students from Pedro Diaz High School are not assured that they will hold their first day of classes on June 1.

This is because DepEd will still consult with Phivolcs regarding the structural integrity of the four buildings traversed by the fault line.

Luistro said that the results of the assessment on the structural integrity of the buildings in the said school will be announced on Friday.

He said that the five schools have contingency plans in place should an earthquake occur.

The West Valley Fault, which has the ability to generate a magnitude 7.2 quake, traverses 18 cities and municipalities in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal and Cavite.

Phivolcs said that the last quake generated from the area was recorded in 1658. IDL