Labella: Update geo-hazard data

CEBU, Philippines - Public school and local officials want the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 to conduct another Rapid Field Assessment to update its seven-year geo-hazard data.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella pointed this out during his visit yesterday to the Busay Elementary School in Barangay Busay and the Dr. Emilio Osmeña Sr. Integrated School in Barangay Buot Taup.

Last August 3, 2007, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 has identified Buot Taup as susceptible.

Ricardo Aman, Dr. Emilio Osmeña Sr. Integrated School principal, affirmed this, but said his school is already “safe” since portion of a soft slope behind the school was already bulldozed.

“Ang data sa MGB sometime in 2007 pa na-corrected na with regards to landslide. Di na kinahanglan kabalak-an (No need to worry about it),” said Aman.

The school has over 500 elementary students in 10 classrooms and 160 high schools students accommodated in six classrooms.

Busay ES, on the other hand, needs to be relocated since the site is “too risky” for school children. The campus sits near a cliff on a city government-owned lot.

One building of Busay Elementary School only has two classes since eight rooms were abandoned after the 200 landslide incident in year 2007. The school has 520 students.

The situation prompted school officials to construct a makeshift classroom adjacent to the school. However, the site still poses a threat to the lives of the students since the classroom was constructed atop a septic tank.

“It is not safe because underneath is hollow…. Also, it is unsanitary. The classroom should be relocated the soonest, “Labella said.

Yesterday, members of the Office of the Building Official and the local school board conducted a structural assessment in both public schools.

Mayor Michael Rama has already directed the local school board to fast-track the scouting of relocation sites.

“…Address this as quick as possible because this is our priority. The schools must be relocated faster,” Rama said, adding that massive reforestation must also be done to prevent soil erosion or landslides. (FREEMAN)