Safety concerns force school to adopt class shift

CEBU, Philippines — A total of 644 students of Babag 1 Elementary School will shift to an adjusted class schedule following safety concerns after shaking was felt in the school’s four-storey building.

The affected students include 299 Grade 6 pupils and 161 Grade 5 pupils in regular classes, as well as 184 pupils from Grades 1 to 6 enrolled in the Special Program in Science.

Under the shifting arrangement, some classes will attend face-to-face sessions every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while others will hold face-to-face classes every Tuesday and Thursday.

On days when they do not have face-to-face classes, students will continue learning through the Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM).

The adjustment came after pupils and teachers reportedly felt the school building shaking, particularly on the second floor, on August 12.

Mayor Ma. Cynthia “Cindi” King-Chan said the pupils and teachers were immediately evacuated as a precaution following the incident.

The Lapu-Lapu City Engineering Office and the Office of the Building Official (OBO) subsequently conducted an initial ocular inspection of the four-storey, 12-classroom building.

The inspection found no apparent signs of structural failure in the building’s primary structural members, including its columns and beams.

However, portions of the second-floor slab along the hallway showed concrete spalling and peeling caused by corrosion of reinforcing steel bars.

Noticeable vibrations were also observed in three classrooms on the second floor. The slab showed an estimated deflection of about one inch, while cracks were also found on the floor.

Vibrations were likewise noted in classrooms on the third and fourth floors, although these were assessed to be within tolerable limits.

The city government has cordoned off the area and restricted entry into the four-storey building pending a more thorough inspection by a structural engineer from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

King-Chan said the second floor requires particular attention, while the third and fourth floors may still potentially be usable.

As a precautionary measure, however, DepEd Superintendent Dr. Marilyn Andales decided to temporarily pull out the 12 class sections assigned to the building.

King-Chan clarified that there will be no suspension of classes.

Instead, the school will adjust its class schedules using available classrooms while the building undergoes further assessment.

The City Engineering Office and OBO recommended immediate rectification and rehabilitation of the entire second-floor slab to address the observed defects and ensure structural safety.

The report also recommended that classes in the affected second-floor classrooms remain temporarily suspended until the necessary repairs and further structural evaluation are completed.

The four-storey building was constructed and turned over in 2016 and has been in use for approximately a decade.

“Safety first ta always. We will wait for the findings of the structural inspection before making any further decisions regarding the use of the building,” King-Chan said.-(CEBU NEWS)