Quake forces class suspension

CEBU, Philippines - There are no classes in all levels today in the entire Cebu Province, as well as in Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City.

Classes have also been suspended in Negros Oriental and Iloilo City in Panay.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III yesterday issued an executive order suspending classes indefinitely. He issued the order following reports of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of the damage yesterday’s earthquake caused on classrooms, roads and bridges. 

“We don’t want to compromise the safety of our school children and of course teachers,” Davide said yesterday.

Davide also asked the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to conduct on-site assessment of destruction of school buildings.

He said the agencies should be the one to certify if the school buildings are already safe.

DepEd Cebu Province Schools Division Supt. Arden Monisit said he has ordered all school heads and municipal engineers to give a report at the end of the day.

“If everything is safe then we will resume classes on Thursday,” Monisit said.

Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City have also suspended classes until schools are certified to be structurally safe.

Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes has created a Task Force headed by City Engineer Dario Mago to inspect all public and private sch0ols and establishments in the city.

Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza, meanwhile, ordered all hotels, resorts, public school buildings, and markets inspected.

Sixth District Luigi Quisumbing has also coordinated with DepEd, as well as asked DPWH to check on the Marcelo Fernan Bridge and Mandaue-Mactan Bridge and roads. His office will provide medical assistance to those injured because of the quake.  

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard decided to cancel trips of vessels from Cebu City after it found out that there cracks at Pier 3 and 4.

 â€œAs of now, we have no idea as to the extent of the damage at our terminal. That’s why we opted to cancel all travels,” Coast Guard District Commander Weniel Azcuna told The Freeman.

 Right after the earthquake, the power substation in Paknaan, Mandaue City and in Consolacion town tripped-off.

Theresa Gonzales, spokesperson of the Visayan Electric Company (VECO) said residents in the area experienced power interruption for one hour and a half. – (FREEMAN)