DepEd asked to act on unauthorized school dig

CEBU, Philippines - Acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants the Department of Education to take necessary action regarding the unauthorized digging done at the Don Vicente Rama Memorial National High School.

Rama in yesterday’s press conference said he wrote a letter to Cebu City Schools Superintendent Lorna Rances to take appropriate action against school principal Nympha Balili.

“I just brought to her attention what we saw and found out the other day, it is now up to her to do and take the necessary steps,” Rama said.

Rama emphasized that the digging in the grounds of the school did not look anything like a compost pit as claimed by school personnel and Balili.

Rama had the hole, which was estimated to be more than 20 feet deep, filled in and covered yesterday by personnel from the City Engineering office.

Residents of barangay Basak-Pardo speculated treasure-hunting is being done in the hole which was started more than a month ago.

A security guard of the school claimed he and two other men are working voluntarily for the supposed compost pit that would solve the school’s garbage woes.

The barangay allegedly no longer collects trash from the school, forcing the students to take their trash home with them.

Balili explained to the media that the pit was dug deep so it can be used for the next three years.

She said the school produces 25 sacks of garbage daily and the barangay has failed to collect these.

This irked Basak Pardo Captain George Rama who said they already have a garbage collection system imposed in the said area. – Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP (THE FREEMAN)