School loses power supply

CEBU, Philippines - At least three classrooms of Tejero Elementary School have lost its power supply last Thursday after the Visayan Electric Company disconnected it because of the failure of the Local School Board to settle its obligation.

The power supply, however, was restored the following day after the Cebu City government through the school board negotiated with VECO.

City hall has started processing the payment for the month of June and July and aims to settle the payable in less than 15 days.

LSB chairperson Ester Cubero said that they have not paid the bills because it did not reach their office. The school reportedly has payable amounting to P80,000 but Cubero could not confirm the amount.

She added that upon inquiry, the billing was handed to a teacher who already resigned and failed to turnover it to the school board. While the supply was cut Thursday morning, the bill was forwarded to LSB office in the afternoon.

“Upon learning about the disconnection, we sent a staff to negotiate with VECO. So the lights were back the next day,” Cubero said.

Tejero barangay officials said they were not directly informed by the school and only learned from constituents.

“The barangay is aware that electricity was disconnected. But no official word, neither written nor verbal, from school officials. A parent went to barangay hall and told us about it,” Tejero barangay Councilman Garry Lao said.

He added that despite being located in Tejero, the school actually covers five barangays. These include T. Padilla, Tinago, San Roque, Parian and Tejero.

Lao continued that the barangay assistance extended to the school comprised garbage collection and utilization of barangay bus to ferry night school students.  (FREEMAN)