CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) has recommended the declaration of a State of Emergency in response to the geohazard risk posed at Buhisan Elementary School yesterday, March 18, 2025.
This will now be transmitted for deliberation and approval before the Cebu City Council.
On the same day, Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia also announced the intent of the Department of Education (DepEd) to temporarily halt face-to-face classes at Buhisan Elementary School due to the incessant downpour, which also poses danger to students.
In a copy of the resolution, the CDRRMC, headed by Chairman Ramil Ayuman, officially declared a State of Emergency at Buhisan Elementary School following the evaluation of visible ground cracks around the area.
This follows the risk assessment conducted by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office (MGB)-7, which also recommended that, in the “event of an unfavorable outcome” from further studies, the relocation of the school site should be considered to ensure long-term safety.
The CDRRMC’s declaration also stems from MGB-7’s report, which noted evidence of active slope instability and structural damage. The same CDRRMC resolution cited the need to allocate resources and mobilize efforts to address the urgent situation efficiently.
Hours before the declaration of the State of Emergency by the CDRRMC, Garcia, in an interview with reporters, said that in his initial conversation with DepEd, the latter had already agreed that the school would implement blended classes.
“Grabe man sad ang forecast karon, naay mga uwan and all,” said Garcia.
He, however, clarified that this agreement only applies for this week. He added that he had also requested the barangay officials in Buhisan to come up with a resolution to declare a State of Emergency for the immediate utilization of disaster funds.
Garcia said the funds would then be appropriated for the retrofitting of the school, as recommended by the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), which also conducted its risk analysis and structural assessment.
He added that although the retrofitting would address the risks at the school, the lack of classrooms in the area had also prompted him to explore the possibility of purchasing the property behind the barangay and building another school facility.
In another interview, Buhisan Elementary School Principal Gemma Amarillo said they did not call off classes yesterday, as it was only agreed that modular classes would be implemented if the rain persisted.
She added that online classes would not be applicable to all students, as not all of them have access to the internet. She admitted that they had not met with the parents but had already briefed the teachers on the current situation at the school, particularly regarding its structural integrity.
She said they were planning to call an emergency meeting with the parents to discuss the situation this Friday. Moving forward, they are prepared to shift to the modular system if the rain persists.
Amarillo also mentioned that they are still keen on conducting face-to-face classes, as the end of the school year is just a month away.
On the plans to relocate the school, Amarillo admitted that they have requested to fast-track this plan should it be implemented. She acknowledged that the school’s location is steep and that its ground has weakened.
“So for relocation, in favor jud ko in behalf sa akong mga co-teachers sad,” said Amarillo.
It was reported that the CDRRMO requested MGB-7 to conduct a Geohazard Assessment Report regarding the visible ground cracks at Buhisan Elementary School.
Prior to this, the CDRRMO and the Office of the Building Official (OBO) had conducted an initial assessment and recommended that the school undergo a risk assessment due to the observed cracks in the walls, slabs, floors, and beneath the beams of the principal’s office and classrooms.
In their report, MGB-7 outlined several recommendations based on their observations. For the site, MGB-7 recommended that additional engineering studies be conducted by professionals to determine the appropriate measures to address the landslide hazard.
They also discouraged further development, such as playgrounds, in the identified landslide areas. They further recommended installing an appropriate drainage system to redirect the flow of water.
In the same list of recommendations, MGB-7 noted that the identified landslide areas should be off-limits to the school community. MGB-7 also encouraged the installation of warning signs around the unstable portions to alert students and staff.
MGB-7 emphasized the need for the relocation of the school site for long-term safety should there be an unfavorable outcome from the geotechnical and engineering study.
In a separate inspection, DEPW also conducted an analysis of the area. Engineer Jonathan Tumulak of DEPW told reporters that the cause of the visible cracks was “poor water management” from surface water or rainwater.
3 slope protections to be constructed in Sirao
In another development, Garcia also spearheaded the groundbreaking of three slope protection projects in Brgy. Sirao, Cebu City with a total budget appropriation of more than P41 million. The budget will be charged against the disaster funds.
According to Garcia, this is in response to the risky roads near Sirao Garden, where many of the roads have already caved in.
“Kuyaw na kaayo to, kung mabug-atan pa to, mu give in na jud to sya, and it will cause so much accident,” said Garcia.
He added that these projects had already been proposed three years ago but had not been realized.
Some portions of the affected roads are remnants of a landslide that occurred in the area, which Garcia described as an “accident waiting to happen.”
The scope of work includes building sheet piles underneath and strengthening the structural integrity of the roads. Garcia said that the project plays a significant role in protecting these roads from landslides, as Sirao is a popular tourist attraction in Cebu City.
“It is also very good tourism we are trying to promote, also our hinterlands, na inig saka nimo safe ka, di ka maunsa, walay peligro di ka maaksidente,” said Garcia.
Aside from these slope protections, the Cebu City Government also conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for the barangay’s multi-purpose hall. — (FREEMAN)