Aftershocks suspend classes further in city, province

CEBU, Philippines - Classes in public schools in all levels in Cebu City and Cebu Province are suspended until November 3.

“In the province, classess will resume on Nov. 4 for public schools. The respective administrators of the private schools will make the announcement for their schools,” reads a text message from Cebu Provincial Schools Division Supt. Dr. Arden Monisit sent to Capitol public information officer Ethel Natera.

Gov. Hilario Davide III issued an executive order last Tuesday suspending the classes in all levels of public schools in the province after the earthquake hit Cebu. He said the order will be lifted only when engineers can assure that the school buildings are safe to use.

In Cebu City, Mayor Michael Rama said yesterday classes in public schools in all levels are suspended until November 3. There are no classes in private schools and Rama and the schools’ officials are expected to come up with a decision on the schedule in the succeeding days.

DepEd-7 Director Dr. Carmelita Tumulak told Rama and Cebu City hall department heads during the command conference yesterday that she is concerned of the safety of children if classes will resume considering yesterday’s successive aftershocks.

Tumulak said there are 1.6 million students in Region 7 with at least 200,000 children in private and public schools.

DepEd said classes in Bohol are suspended until further notice.

There are 64 secondary schools or 418 schools in 17 municipalities out of 1091 schools in the province of Bohol.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Schools Division Superintendent Rhea Angtud said they already started repairing the seven schools which were struck by the 7.1-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday morning.

Angtud said only 15 percent of the total 531 identified classrooms need major repairs, including  Camp Lapu-Lapu, Apas Elementary School, Labangon Elementary School, Don Carlos Gothong, San Nicolas Elementary School and Inayawan Elementary School.

There are also no classes in all levels in both public and private schools in Talisay City and Mandaue City until November 3. Classes, however, will resume in Lapu-Lapu City today. — /JMO (FREEMAN)