Instead of criticizing MGB-7 urged to help solve problem in Busay

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 should help the city government in addressing the problem on relocation site of Busay Elementary School, said Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Rama said MGB-7 should do its job instead of just saying that the Busay gym, which serves as the temporary school of the children in the barangay, is also unsafe for the students.

“It’s better that they do their job, because I have been looking for a place, I have been looking for a lot. How? Kaysa moingon nga dili kayo (safe),” Rama said.

The mayor further complained that some agencies have always been criticizing the city’s move as inappropriate, but do not suggest solution to the problem.

“Maypa’g motabang sila. Unsa ma’y gusto nilang itabang? Sometimes, people just want to say it cannot be, dili mahimo (but) what can they offer?” Rama added.

It was earlier reported that MGB-7 urged the city government and the Department of  Education to relocate the school in a safer place since it poses imminent danger to students.

DENR-7 information officer Eddie Llamedo has said that eventhough the City Agriculture put a slope protection beside the gym’s uphill soil and a retaining wall to prevent the possible landslide in the area, the place is still landslide-prone.

“Dili man ko engineer, mao nang tagai ko’g unsay buhaton kay atong sundon,” Rama further said. “How I wish by tomorrow mabalhin sila og skwelahan, but classes has to proceed,” he added.

In a separate interview, Llamedo said that DENR and MGB have vowed to help in determining possible relocation sited for the school.

“Ang amo lang pud nga matabang is the reassessment of  the area kay dili gyod to pwede,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rama said that Sapangdaku Elementary School, which was also relocated temporarily to its barangay hall since it was identified as a flood-prone area, is now operational.

The mayor said that he is negotiating with a private donor who is willing to donate for the expansion of the barangay hall.

“Kun modako ang barangay, pwede pud nato padak-an ilang skwelahan,” said Rama. —/NSA (FREEMAN)