By October 1, 2022: Rama wants all schools fixed

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Rama wants all public schools in the city repaired by October 1 so they can be ready for the return to full face-to-face classes in November 2022.

“You make it happen before October 1… I will visit all the schools… and all guba nga eskwelan already be repaired,” Rama told Local School Board (LSB) Executive Director Ian Hassamal before leaving for Manila.

Rama also sought the public’s help in rebuilding the schools that were damaged during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in December 2021.

“Barangayan, Bayanihan, Boluntarismo... adoption of privately-driven governance,” Rama said.

Hassamal said they prioritized the schools that have the most damage. There are 127 schools in Cebu City.

“Actually, daghan pa (for repairs)... basically, gi-identify nato ang grabe gyud kaayo… Mura ba’g sakit, naay stage 4, stage 3, stage 2, stage 1 kung cancer na siya… Giuna gyud nato nga maayo ang katong stage 4,” he told The Freeman.

He said the schools division superintendent in the city has already elevated the concern to the central office of the Department of Education (DepEd) but the budget is still has to be approved and downloaded to Cebu City.

“Pasalamat ta DepEd nilang Dr. Rheamar Antud nga ni-channel siya sa national unya ni kuan sila’g pila ka schools nga ilang i-repair… Mao lagi, wala pa nila masugdi kay waiting for the approval of the budget, i think so,” added Hassamal.

DepEd’s Engineering Department will reportedly work on the fourth and fifth floors of high rise school building that incurred damage while the LSB will work on the second and third floors.

LSB, however, has already started working on some schools with four stories.

“Gibahin nato ang atong mga personnel sa upland and lowland… Ang ubang di makaaabot, ingon pud sila’g kami diay sir, apektado man sad mi,” Hassamal said.

The LSB has also tapped the help of the private sector.

“Kabalo man ko nga every school naay mga stakeholders… Mao tong nakig-meet ko sa mga principals ug naa moy mga steakholders nga mutrabaho sila… Naa silay mga panday, naa silay mga welder para sa re-roofing… by then, the city government through the LSB will supply the materials… then naa tay public-private partnerships,” Hassamal said.

Barangays are also told to utilize their own personnel, including the tanods, to help in the school repairs.

“Naa man gyud na silay mga tanod, mga panday man gyud na, to also help in the reconstruction or the repair… para paspas atong trabaho,” he added.

Roofing is LSB’s top priority.

Hassamal said Rama’s October 1 deadline is doable if everyone helps in the actual work, especially that the city has materials on hand.

“Sa akong part, sa LSB and sa part sa engineers… kung naa lang gyuy pagtinabangay coming from the private sectors, basically doable… doable man na kay naa may materials maggamit,” Hassamal said. – JMO (FREEMAN)