As F2F classes loom: Schools need help on repairs

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Local School Board has echoed Mayor Michael Rama’s call for the private sector to help finish up school repairs as they only have a limited capacity in time for the reopening of face-to-face classes later this year.

According to a report by the Public Information Office, there were 767 classrooms reported to the LSB to have been damaged due to typhoon Odette middle of December of last year.

At the moment, there are still 665 classrooms in different public schools in Cebu City that need to be repaired.

The LSB said it is doing its best to repair classrooms ahead of the full face-to-face classes in November.

On a limited capacity, it said it was able to fix over a hundred classrooms already.

"Naghinay-hinay ta og apas sa number of classrooms nga needed for November, which is atong full face-to-face classes. So take note, ang ingon ni President Marcos is August ang atoang limited face-to-face. Dili pa magamit tanan natong classrooms during that time," LSB head Melissa dela Cruz said.

However, LSB can only do minor repairs as their personnel do not have the skills, capacity and equipment to repair roofing and walls for tall buildings.

With this, LSB hopes that more contractors and other private companies will help them fix damaged classrooms just like Dakay Construction, Duros Construction, and other companies.

“Nanawagan pud mi, through our PIO office and through ni Mayor Mike, nga magpatabang sa mga contractors nga willing mo take sa roof even if kuan kanang community service nila nga maka-fix, maka-help sila sa atong mga eskuylahan, especially those nga duol ra sa ilang opisina sa ilang mga headquarters. Mao na among approach so far,” appealed dela Cruz.

DepEd-Cebu City also organized fund-raising activities to buy materials for school repairs, but even as they were able to raise some funds, DepEd-Cebu City and even the LSB do not have enough manpower and capabilties to do all repairs.

With this, the Cebu City government, through the LSB and the DepEd-Cebu City, is hoping to get all classrooms done as soon as they can as more classrooms are needed as physical distancing should still be observed to keep students safe against Covid-19.

Earlier, DepEd-7 regional director Salustiano Jimenez said schools may already do a full face-to-face class ahead of the targeted schedule in November of this year, providing their pass the requirements.

Jimenez even said they are encouraging the conduct of full face-to-face classes beginning on August 22 in areas that are Covid-free and have already undergone the limited face-to-face classes last school year.

However, Cebu City Mayor Rama also expressed his desire to have a uniform schedule for the implementation of a hundred percent physical classes, even including the tertiary level. --/JMD (FREEMAN)