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DepEd: Opening of classes in Marawi to push through

May 24, 2017 | 2:25pm

DepEd: Opening of classes in Marawi to push through

Education Secretary Briones said public schools in Marawi City will not be used as evacuation centers. Philstar.com/File photo

MANILA, Philippines — The opening of classes scheduled on June 5 will push through despite the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, the Department of Education said on Wednesday.

In a statement, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said no changes were made to the schedule of the start of classes in public elementary and high schools.

“Schools will not be used as evacuation centers. In Marawi City, the provincial capitol and the Mindanao State University will serve as evacuation centers,” said Briones.

“The Cabinet will have further briefing and discussions upon arrival of the president,” she added.

In a phone interview with The STAR, Marawi City schools division assistant superintendent Ana Alonto denied a report that a public school was among the buildings burnt by the terrorists.

She said it was the barangay outpost that was seen burning in a photo circulating online.

In a press briefing in Moscow on Tuesday night, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana mentioned a Ninoy Aquino School among the buildings in Marawi that had been on fire.

Alonto said the situation in the city was relatively quiet on Wednesday, with several firefights erupting once in a while.

“We suspended the enrollment in the schools. We urge our teachers, students and their parents to remain at home and stay safe,” she said.

Power has yet to return to the city after it was cut on Tuesday afternoon.

In a separate interview, Lanao del Sur school division superintendent Normillah Pangandaman said they encountered heavy traffic on the roads leading to Marawi City as residents tried to evacuate from the city.

Pangandaman was supposed to return to Marawi City on Wednesday from an event in Cotabato City, but she said they were diverted to Iligan City due to traffic.

She said a training session for teachers that was being conducted on Tuesday was stopped after armed men barged into their venue.

No teacher was hurt as they were allowed to return home, said Pangandaman.

Dansalan College

Rannie Mercado, executive director of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) that operates Dansalan College, confirmed that several buildings of the Dansalan College Foundation were burnt by alleged members of the Maute Group.

A Dansalan alumnus based in Manila also uploaded images of the burnt school, which he said was taken by a classmate on Wednesday morning.

The source also sent images of residents evacuating the city.

While the burning of the school was confirmed, Mercado said they have yet to verify other information about the attack, particularly on the situation of the employees and their family.

He said UCCP sent a bus from Iligan City to evacuate the employees of Dansalan.

Mercado said the opening of classes would definitely be affected as most of the facilities of the school was affected.

MSU Marawi

In a text message to The STAR, Mindanao State University vice president for academic affairs Alma Berowa said all remaining academic activities in the university were suspended.

“Majority of the students have already gone home because the semester has officially ended. But, yes, there are still students in the campus and we are taking care of them,” she said.

“We are facilitating temporary transfer from private boarding houses to university dormitories and providing them logistical support such as food, water and security,” said Berowa.

The university official said those who wish to go home may do so, but they have to facilitate for safe transportation in coordination with the military.

“We will resume when the situation returns to normal. The crisis committee is doing its best to deal with the current scenario,” added Berowa.