DepEd holds engrs accountable for safety: Cebu classes resume today

CEBU, Philippines - Classes in all levels in Cebu resume today after  these were suspended due to the 7.2 magnitude quake that hit Cebu and Bohol last October 15.

Department of Education – 7 regional director Carmelita Dulangon yesterday urged teachers and students to stay calm as aftershocks still continue to rock Cebu and Bohol.

“Number one rule, do not panic. Stay calm,” Dulangon said.

The regional director, in a command conference with engineers and school heads last October 30, was assured that “most classrooms in the region are safe for occupancy.”

“I will hold you accountable for your findings! Be sure to put everything in paper kay lisod kaayo, wala maunsa nang mga bata pag linog, nya maunsa na nuon pag-resume,” Dulangon told the engineers during the command conference.

The engineers, headed by regional lead engineer Kevin Bolok, said the use of the buildings as polling precincts during the barangay elections could already vouch for integrity and safety.

“If the public is expecting speedy replacement of collapsed or totally damaged buildings or immediate repair of partially damaged buildings, dili gyud na madali because we have to go through the process as required by COA (Commission on Audit),” Bolok said.

Dulangon said that classes in Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces will resume today but classes in Bohol will resume tomorrow since the province is celebrating Carlos Garcia Day today.

She said that some schools will have to use tents as temporary classrooms while some will have to resort to having double-shifts in class schedules wherein the first batch would have 6 am to 2 pm classes and the second batch will have 2pm to 7 pm classes.

While some classrooms are undergoing repairs, Dulangon also directed school heads to use non-academic rooms such as clinics, libraries and principal’s office as temporary classrooms.

She also reminded principals to make sure that the buildings that have been declared unsafe should not be occupied and should be off-limits to students and teachers. She added that signs and markers should be put up and these should be visible to everyone concerned.

Dulangon said that because of the long vacation due to the suspension of classes after the October 15 earthquake, classes may be extended up to the end of April.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is reminding all parents, teachers and stakeholders to always be vigilant now that students are back in school despite the continuing aftershocks.

Rama also asked parents to make some sacrifices and ensure the safety of their children in school by not leaving their children there, especially those in pre-school and elementary.

“Pinakaimportante nga vigilant tang tanan sa panghitabo and gamay nga sakripisyo sa pag-oversee sa inyong mga anak. Di lang basta biyaan sa skwelahan kay we cannot be too sure, basin naa na pud aftershocks,” Rama said.

 Geologists from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) earlier warned that tremors will be felt three to four weeks after the major tremor.

Rama, however, expressed confidence that the teachers will be able to handle situations such as aftershocks because they underwent stress debriefing and an earthquake preparedness seminar last October 21 to 25.

City Councilor Dave Tumulak and DepEd Cebu City School’s Division Superintendent Rhea Mar Angtud are expected to inspect schools today to check if teachers and school heads followed what was agreed during the seminar, such as the securing of cabinets inside classrooms, removal of anything that might easily fall and freeing pathways of obstructions.

Cyril Alfeche, 8, a grade 3 pupil of Labangon Elementary School, told The Freeman that she is ready to attend classes but is afraid of the aftershocks.

“Mahadlok ko mosulod sa among classroom kay maglinog nya pero mo sud lang gihapon ko kay sure man ko di na maglinog, ready na gani ko,” Alfeche said.

 A total of 18 of the 122 schools in Cebu City were severely damaged by the October 15 earthquake, according to Angtud. These include Tejero Elementary School, Gothong Memorial National High School, San Nicolas Elementary School, Camp Lapu-Lapu Elementary School, Inayawan Elementary School and Labangon Elementary School.

 In Cebu province, meanwhile, DepEd provincial superintendent Dr. Arden Monisit said 804 classrooms all over Cebu have been declared “structurally unsafe” and would need to undergo major repairs.

The repair is estimated to reach around P227 million, said Monisit, not including the classrooms and schools that were damaged but are still usable.

While the funding for the repair of the schools is under the DepEd, the provincial government announced earlier that it will help with the expenses, as well as in the purchase of tents to be used as temporary classrooms.

Monisit said that in case of an aftershock or an earthquake, the teachers and students are already prepared considering the earthquake drills they have been conducting even prior the October 15 earthquake.

He said that if there is a need to suspend classes, the teachers should advise parents first that the students would be sent home and should be picked-up, adding that school principals can dismiss classes if they see that the lives of their students are at risk.

Cebu Province has 1,122 public schools, 893 for elementary and 229 for high school. — /QSB (FREEMAN)