Safety concerns raised over cracks in Cebu City school building
CEBU CITY—Authorities have expressed concern over cracks found at Buhisan Elementary and Night High School in Barangay Buhisan, a mountain village in this city.
According to Ramil Ayuman, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), a report from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) showed “active slope instability” in the area, making the ground weak and unsafe.
If not addressed, Ayuman said the problem will pose serious risks to school occupants, including teachers and students as well as nearby residents.
Ayuman, in an interview on March 19, said the MGB-Central Visayas has recommended relocating Buhisan Elementary and Night High School to another site as a long-term solution.
Modular classes
The CCDRRMO is also pushing to place certain areas in Barangay Buhisan under a state of emergency for the release of government funds to address the problem.
The cracks were found in the school’s three-story building, particularly on the floors, stairs and walls.
Teachers at Buhisan Elementary and Night High School were still awaiting the principal’s decision on implementing modular classes for students in the coming months, officials said.
At least 1,000 students, teachers, and nonteaching personnel have been affected by the structural damage in their school building.
The Office of the Building Official, MGB, and the city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) have recommended relocating classes to a safer location to protect students and teachers from potential hazards.
Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, in a press conference on March 19, said the city government is currently looking into purchasing a lot as a possible relocation site for the school.
However, he could not guarantee the immediate construction of a new building.
The proposed relocation lot measures between 2,000 and 4,000 square meters but is privately owned.
For now, Garcia sees retrofitting the existing school buildings as a temporary intervention.
The DEPW has also committed to implementing necessary interventions as soon as possible before the rainy season begins.
