Cebu courts closed, too: All classes suspended until Nov. 3

CEBU, Philippines - Classes in all levels, in public and private schools in the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu are suspended until November 3.

This, after the province continues to experience aftershocks due to the magnitude-7.2 that hit Bohol and Cebu last October 15.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza made their respective announcements yesterday. Talisay City Mayor Johnny de los Reyes and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes announced the suspension of classes in their areas last Sunday. Cebu Provincial Schools Superintendent Arden Monisit, meanwhile, suspended classes in all levels in public schools also last Sunday but left it to the private schools administrators to decide for their respective institutions.

In Cebu City, Rama already suspended classes for public schools until November 3 but decided to suspend classes for private schools only until yesterday so he could meet private school administrators.

A total of 57 representatives from schools and universities in Cebu City showed up for the meeting yesterday, where a letter from Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-7 director Amelia Biglete, addressed to Rama, was discussed.

"This has reference to the continuous aftershocks being felt in Cebu City. For the safety of the students of colleges and universities in Cebu City, this office would like to recommend that classes be further suspended and to resume on November 4, 2013," the letter said.

All the school administrators present during the meeting agreed to suspend classes and follow the recommended resumption date of November 4.

 "We don't want to bring the children to unnecessary inconvenience with the announcement of Phivolcs that aftershocks will still continue two to three weeks after the earthquake last week," Rama said.

In Lapu-Lapu City, Mayor Radaza apologized for the inconvenience that her decision to have classes resume yesterday had caused. Radaza only decided to suspend classes at 7:15 am yesterday, when there were already students who showed up in their respective schools.

"I knew late yesterday (Sunday) afternoon that I was the lone LGU that decided to resume classes. I had to make a decision and that was the decision I made based on facts at hand. From experts, I was told, all our school buildings sustained NO structural damage…For the inconvenience I might have caused, I apologize," Radaza's statement said.

"The fear I sensed on the faces of some students who went to school today and the concern shown by their parents for what happened last Oct. 15 made me decide to suspend classes, albeit late in the day. I was monitoring their coming back to school and I could feel that there were still traces of trauma and concern. Despite fear of contradiction and possible backlash for the decisions I made, I have decided to suspend classes today and back on Nov. 4," the mayor added.

Meanwhile, at least 16 schools in the City of Naga in southern Cebu are unsafe to use, according to the inspecting team of the City Engineering Office.

"Relevant to the actual inspection conducted by this office for the assessment of all school buildings within the jurisdiction of City of Naga, please be informed that various buildings...were found unsafe for occupancy and pose danger to lives of school children," said City Engineer Alpha Alojado and Joveno Garcia, City Planning and Development Coordinator. 

The letter, which was addressed to Senen Paulin, officer-in-charge Department of Education-City of Naga schools division superintendent, was noted by Mayor Val Chiong.

Naga City public information officer-designate Gary Cabotaje, in a text message, said the city has already cordoned these areas "to maintain safety." He said Chiong is already planning to purchase collapsible tents to be used as temporary classrooms while rehabilitation is ongoing.

Aside from classes, court hearings in the province have also been affected by the Oct. 15 earthquake.

The Supreme Court (SC) announced yesterday that courts in Cebu have been closed indefinitely due to continuing aftershocks.

Court administrator Jose Midas Marquez, who supervises all trial courts in the country, said hearings and work at courts in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue were "suspended until further notice."

"We are scouting for an area where hearings may temporarily be held. But pending such identification, hearings and work at these halls of justice are suspended," he said in a statement.

Marquez said the Hall of Justice in Cebu City was severely damaged.

But in Lapu-Lapu City, he said "work has resumed because it appears that the building only had minimal damage but still has to be checked by a structural engineer." — with Liv G. Campo /QSB