DENR to city: Move school to safer place

CEBU, Philippines - After learning that classes in Busay Elementary School resumed last June 23, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 and Mines and Geosciences Bureau urged the Cebu City government and the Department of Education to relocate the school to a safer place.

DENR-7 information officer Eddie Llamedo also said the slope protection at the barangay gym used as temporary school is not that useful.

“Ang Busay man gud is a natural process ra niya. Wala pa siya nakaabot sa iyang threshold nga maka-stabilize, meaning ongoing iyang pagka-active landslide prone,” he said, adding that the slope stabilization or protection is just a “stop-gap.”

The MGB has assessed the location of the gym and found out it projects imminent danger to 500 students housed temporarily there.

The city government assured earlier that the gym is safer compared to the old school building because of the slope protection and the construction of the retaining wall.

Llamedo said, however, that the slope protection does not eradicate the fact that the place is landslide prone.

“Naay retaining wall pero tan-awn gihapon ang base sa gi-anchor sa retaining wall,” he said, adding that the soil is classified as very porous and steep. He added that they will observe the effect of the slope protection and the retaining wall.

“We stand sa DENR nga recommendation to relocate the school not in the gym nga temporary karon,” he said.

LLamedo said MGB will re-assess the area next week but is not optimistic about the outcome. He said it might even be riskier compared to the assessment seven years ago.

Meanwhile, School Principal Phamela Oliva said they have could not do anything as to the temporary classroom.

“Wala mi mahimo kon diri mi ibutang, pero for now, mas ganahan rami kaysa sa ubos nga skwelahan,” she said. – (FREEMAN)