Rama: Finish emergency exits fast

CEBU, Philippines- Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has ordered the Local School Board to hasten the construction of emergency exits in all public schools in the city.

 City Hall has appropriated P23 million for additional emergency exits following the massive devastation caused by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in both Bohol and Cebu in 2013.

The amount was sourced from the Special Education Fund.

 “Importante kaayo ang emergency exits so angay gyod paspasan kay kuwang sa paspas ang paghimo. It’s already budgeted. What’s the problem?” Rama asked, following yesterday’s intensity 5 earthquake in the Visayas area, including Cebu and Bohol.

 The city is set to construct 70 emergency exits in 40 schools that lack emergency stairways. This is to ensure that students can vacate the buildings safely in the event of emergencies.

Among the schools are the Abellana National High School, Guadalupe Elementary School, Lahug Elementary School, Zapatera Elementary School, Mabolo Elementary School and City Central School.

LSB Chairman Rady Diola said constructions of 25 emergency exits have just commenced owing to some bidding hitches. The project was bidded out last September.

 These additional exits are seen to be operational this May.

 Of the 70 emergency exits, 30 have been constructed while 15 others are set to be finished next week.

Lawyer Jose Daluz III, head of the Local School Board, said it will take 30 days for the steel emergency stairways to be finished.

 Rama said it was a “good” decision to build a new Cebu City Medical Center instead of retrofitting it as pushed by Councilor Sisinio Andales and other councilors.

 “Retrofitting can’t be a guarantee for our patients’ safety. It’s better to build a new one instead of having it retrofitted,” he said.

 “I hope the earthquake (yesterday) will give them a lesson kun kinsa man ang maayong laki diha sa konseho,” he said.

 City Engineer Kenneth Enriquez and consultant Ariel Dela Cruz, a structural engineer, earlier said retrofitting the old CCMC could extend its life span for 15 years but constructing a new one could last for more than that.

 The old hospital was consequently demolished February last year. Its operation was transferred temporarily to BFP and CITOM building along N. Bacalso Avenue.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation and Communications Regional Management Council – 7 is urging government personnel to undertake earthquake drills regularly.

“I urged that a regular earthquake drill should be conducted among your personnel aron di sila mag-una una og panic in case of an earthquake,” said Nigel Paul Villarete, chairman of DOTC-RMC-7.     (FREEMAN)