Rama: Reuse school bldg in Busay

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama ordered the city’s Barangay Affairs Unit and Department of Agriculture to make a plan for the old building of Busay Elementary School before this gets destroyed or considered unused.

“I’ve already talk to (City Agriculturist) Joey Baclayon to visit the area. ‘Give me a working paper, kamo ni Edu (former city councilor Eduardo Rama Jr. who now heads the Barangay Affairs Unit), tan-awn unsa’y magamit sa agriculture ug sa solid waste management. They should be working intelligently and conscientiously,” Rama said.

The old building was used to be the school of children in Busay, but since it has been identified as landslide-prone, the city government ordered the transfer of classes in the barangay’s gym.

“Sayang man ang building unya kun imo siyang butangan og riprap mas modako man imong gasto unya dili pa guaranteed (that the foundation of the building will be more durable),” Rama added, further directing the two department heads to be “creative” in renovating the building.

Meanwhile, Rama said the barangay’s school is expected to resume classes next week in the barangay’s gym despite the finding that the gym’s location is also prone to landslide.

Local School Board chairman Jose Daluz III, nevertheless, said that they have already inspected the area and built a slope protection for its safety.

Earlier, Rama said that they have difficulty in looking for a permanent relocation site of the school. The relocation reportedly depends upon the decision of the school, Department of Education and local government unit.

Based on reports, MGB-7, which has already conducted a geo-hazard mapping and assessment of  the area in 2007, conducted another Rapid Field Assessment last year, wherein they identified Barangay Busay as one of the 19 barangays in the city with high vulnerability to landslide. —/NSA (FREEMAN)