Quake damage won’t stop polls

CEBU, Philippines - Education officials are concerned about the holding of  the barangay elections on October 28 after over a thousand classrooms in Cebu province have been declared unsafe.

The Commission on Elections in the province, however, said that the elections will push through and they will just look for other venues to replace polling centers that have been damaged.

Department of Education 7 regional director Carmelita Dulangon reported that 1,080 classrooms in Cebu – 549 in the province and 531 in Cebu City – were severely damaged after the  7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit Cebu and Bohol last October 15.

Dulangon is worried about where to hold the barangay polls on Monday considering the fact that even classes have been suspended until November 3, pending the certification of the structural integrity of buildings, most especially multi-level school buildings.

“We will work closely with the Commission on Elections, it might be dangerous,” she added.

Dulangon is also concerned that some teachers, particularly the older ones, are still afraid to enter their respective classrooms when they serve during the elections. She, however, assured that there is enough manpower to replace those who choose not to serve during the elections because of the continuing aftershocks.

Cebu provincial election officer Ferdinand Gujilde already said that the holding of the barangay elections in Cebu will push through on Monday and a postponement, like what was done in Bohol, is a last resort. He said they will just look for other areas to replace voting centers that have been declared unsafe.

“As much as possible we can proceed, we will ask the authority from Manila that we can look for alternative venues,” Gujilde said.

Prior to last week’s earthquake, Gujilde said that Comelec Manila already authorized the transfer of a polling center in Cambaro, Mandaue City to another venue after it was found to be unsafe.

Gujilde added that once a polling precinct is transferred, the election officer should notify the registered voters.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Local School Board (LSB) has given itself two months to repair the school buildings that were damaged by the earthquake.

Mayor Michael Rama earlier ordered the school board, the Department of Engineering and Public Works and the Office of the Building Official to leave no trace of the catastrophe.

“Paninguhaon namo before December 31 wala nay debris ug trace sa earthquake, paningkamotan nga mahuman gyod,” LSB chairperson Ester Cubero said.

Since repair works would take two months, Cubero said some of the schools will have to hold classes in tents when classes will resume on November 4.

Based on the report of school board engineers, at least 87 tents are needed for the schools. The board already procured 32 big tents and still needs 50 more. Cubero said a non-government organization has pledged to donate tents for the schools.

Cebu City Schools Division Superintendent Rhea Angtud earlier said only 15 percent of the total 531 identified classrooms need major repairs. These include Camp Lapu-Lapu National High School, Apas Elementary School, Labangon Elementary School, Don Carlos Gothong Memorial National High School, San Nicolas Elementary School and Inayawan Elementary School.

Cubero said the school board has procured an initial P12 million worth of construction materials through an emergency purchase.

The P12 million will be deducted from the P235-million Special Education Fund (SEF) of the city for this year.

A total of eight engineers and a hundred carpenters have been tasked to handle the repairs of the damaged schools and the construction of classrooms.

Cubero reminded school heads to get a structural integrity certification from the school board engineers.

 â€œAng schools nga dili certified by the engineers nga fit for occupancy dili gyod paklasehan,” Cubero said.

Meanwhile, Rama wants all schools in the city to have emergency exits before the resumption of classes on November 4.

“Daghan pang skwelahan nga walay fire escape. Padayon pa gihapon ang among imbentaryo pila ni ka skwelahan ang walay fire escape,” said Cubero. –(FREEMAN)