BACOLOD City — In the wake of the 6.0-magnitude earthquake in Bogo City, Cebu, felt in Bacolod City on October 13, the local government has suspended classes in public primary and secondary schools.
According to Executive Order (EO) No. 62, issued by Mayor Greg Gasataya on October 13, face-to-face classes in all public primary and secondary schools in the city are suspended on October 14.
The suspension follows the ongoing Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) being conducted jointly by the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), upon the recommendation of the Department of Education (DepEd) – Division of Bacolod City, in response to the recent earthquake.
Public schools are encouraged to shift to modular distance learning, performance tasks, and projects to ensure that learning competencies are met. Meanwhile, classes in public tertiary and private schools are left to the discretion of their respective school heads and safety officers.
When asked on October 14 if classes would resume today, October 15, Mayor Gasataya said the decision is pending the completion of inspections by the concerned offices.
“We have to finish the inspection first, and that is the time we can decide. This is for the safety of the students and everyone,” he said.
Currently, five inspection teams, composed of personnel from the CDRRMO, CEO, Office of the Building Official (OBO), and DepEd, are conducting RDANA in 40 schools across the city. This initiative aims to ensure the safety and structural integrity of public school facilities following the earthquake.
“There’s a need to finish the inspection so we can make the necessary decision within the day. We are focusing on public schools because private schools have their own safety officers to conduct facility inspections,” the mayor emphasized.
Mayor Gasataya also urged the public to report any visible damage to school buildings or other public structures immediately. The inspection teams are expected to submit their assessment reports and recommendations to the City Mayor for appropriate action and safety interventions.
An initial report revealed that Crispino V. Ramos Elementary School (CVRES) in Barangay Taculing is already implementing two shifting classes, as 10 of its classrooms were found unusable due to damage./PN
