Lack of stable site stalls plan to build Busay School

The city could not construct a new school building for Busay for now because it has not found yet an alternate location that is safe from landslides.

This was the reaction of city consultant on education Joy Augustus Young yesterday about the announced plan of Busay barangay captain Eliodoro Sanchez to ask the city for a new school building in the barangay.

“Dugay na ta nagplano nga magtukod og mga classroom sa Busay pero ang problema yuta,” Young said.

A downpour the other day resulted in a landslide, which in turn caused a tree to fall into a two-classroom building of the Busay Elementary School at the foot of a hill. Three other minor landslides were reported in Busay on that day.

While no one was reported hurt, the incident caused panic among the students and teachers prompting the immediate suspension of classes.

Young said that shortly after the landslide was reported, city engineers and members of the Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council went to the area to investigate.

He said he would wait first for the report of the engineers on what caused the landslide and if the site is still stable and safe for a new school building to be constructed there.

Budget for classroom construction in Busay was not part of the city budget this year but it could be included in next year’s, he said, adding that the main problems for such project are a suitable site and the acquisition of rights-of-way.

Young said there is already a landowner who agreed to sell his lot to the city government for a school site but then a right-of-way is still being negotiated.

Young added that the city’s possible option would be to expand the new school building near the barangay’s sports complex but then a road in going there must also be built. —Wenna A. Berondo/RAE