Young won't allow use of defective school building

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young will not allow the two-storey Toong Integrated High School building to be occupied for the opening of classes next month after its structural integrity has been questioned.

School principal Edwin Villamor raised safety concerns after they allegedly noticed that the building’s second floor is shaking. Villamor also noticed cracks on the ceilings and walls of the classrooms.

Although he believe that the cracks were only minor defects, but Young said this has to be repaired.

“Dili lang una nato ipa-occupy. Temporarily they will use tent as classrooms pero dili man pud siguro na madugay kay ato nang ipa-correct dayon sa contractor,” Young told reporters.

The structure was completed by a Zamboanga City-based contractor named MSDLR and funded by the Cebu City government.

The building was built in 2007 by a Zamboanga City-based contractor MSDLR. It was funded by the Cebu City government in the amount of P4.7 million.

In 2009, the first floor sustained cracks. Villamor said they learned that the contractor did not install steel rods on the flooring causing it to crack. The contractor however made the necessary correction.

Young said he already sent a letter to the contractor to correct the latest defect.

“It’s not the structure but the finishing touches ang naay problema. What is important is the structure,” Young added.

Young said he is thinking whether or not to recommend before the local school board the blacklisting of the contractor.

Young, chairman of the committee on education, said that most of the problems that they have encountered were at the mountain barangays.

“Naa gyud problema ang uban ilabi na ang pag-mixture sa mga cement dili matarong. Imagine, naay gitukod nga wala’y access sa sakyanan unya ang materials paghakot kay mano-mano ra,” Young said.

In a separate interview, City Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias, chairman of the committee on infrastructure, said he will be calling for a meeting with the contractor, the barangay and school officials, and the Commission on Audit to discuss with them on what possible actions to be taken in order to correct the defects.

Cabarrubias said that they need to fast track everything considering that the opening of classes is fast approaching. (FREEMAN)