C. Visayas classes seen in tents after quake

CEBU CITY—Hundreds of classes in public schools in Central Visayas will have to be held in tents or shared classrooms after the Oct. 15  7.2-magnitude quake destroyed classrooms and school buildings in the region.

At least 2,000 classrooms had been damaged, according to Carmelita Dulangon, regional education director for Central Visayas.

The cost of the damage could go as high as P900 million, she  said.

Quoting reports from 19 schools, Dulangon said at least 1,094 school buildings and 2,067 classrooms suffered damage.

In Bohol, 202 school buildings suffered damage. In Tagbilaran City, only eight of 24 school buildings are safe following the quake.

Dulangon said she received only a partial report for Bohol because communication with teachers in remote villages had not been restored.

In Cebu, at least 549 classrooms suffered severe damage from the quake.

In Siquijor, 14 schools had been declared unsafe.

Dulangon said the regional office of the education department would hold classes by shifts to maximize the use of classrooms that withstood the impact of the quake.

She said many teachers had volunteered to help in cleaning up classrooms that took in debris as a result of the quake.

Classes in public schools in Cebu would resume on Nov. 4, according to local government officials.