City DepEd asks for funds to conduct soil test in Sirao schools relocation site

Cebu City Schools Division Superintendent Leonilo Oliva is asking the city government to appropriate P300,000 for the conduct of soil testing at the proposed new site of both Sirao Elementary School and Sirao High School after it was reported that the area is not suitable for any infrastructure. The school buildings will be constructed on a lot in sitio Tawagan, which is 1.2 kilometers away from the original location of the schools. The lot is reportedly donated by the Fonacier family.

In his letter addressed to Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Oliva said the conduct of soil testing will produce data that would be used to determine the stability of the soil. Senior geologists Maria Elena Lupo and Alex Aco of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau have observed that the proposed site continuously poses risk to the residents of the area as loose rocks continue to slide from mountainsides.

According to Oliva, the soil testing will determine the feasibility of constructing buildings there, as well as the structural stability of these school buildings and the safety and welfare of the school children and teachers.

The public schools in Sirao have to be relocated since the current location of both schools is under constant threat of landslides. Residents in the area have also raised their concern on the possibility of another landslide, citing their experience in 1996 when a portion of the Sirao Elementary School was buried in rocks and soil.

Last month, the city council allocated P12.7 million for the construction of two new school buildings for barangay Sirao.

The allocation came in the form of two resolutions authored by councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, chairperson of the council's committee on education. The first measure authorized Osmeña to enter into a contract with Maningo Enterprises for the construction of a 10-classroom, two-story elementary school building, while the other resolution authorized the mayor to sign a contract with Narciso Builders for the construction of a high school building. - Garry B. Lao/MEEV