P23M to fund emergency exits in public schools

CEBU, Philippines - About P23 million has been allocated for the construction of additional stairways as emergency exits in three to four-story public school buildings in Cebu City.

Lawyer Jose Daluz III, head of the Local School Board, said there are over 40 identified public school buildings in the city in need of emergency stairways to ensure that students could vacate the structures safely should there be emergencies.

The list of schools includes Abellana National High School, Guadalupe Elementary School, Lahug Elementary School, Zapatera Elementary School, Mabolo Elementary School and City Central School, among others.

Daluz said the opening of bid of contractors will be held on July 31. The city, he added, needs 11 contractors for the immediate construction of the schools’ emergency exits.

“The purpose (of having 11 contractors) there is ma-spread gyod ang trabaho kay kada exit mo-require man gyod og duha or tulo nga welding machines,” he said.

“Once ma-determine na namo ang modaog, we will ask the lowest bidder to start the construction kay small procurement ra man so makasugod gyod dayon sila. Hopefully, daghan na ang mahuman before maabot ang Mayor on August 12,” he said.

Daluz said it would take 30 days for the construction of the steel emergency stairways of the school buildings to be finished.

The emergency construction may be funded using the Special Education Fund, said Daluz.

About P300,000 is allocated for the stairways in three-story buildings while P400,000 for four-story buildings.

The city, however, still needs P6 million for the construction of emergency stairways in two-story buildings, mostly located in the mountain barangays, Daluz said.

Acting Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said he has been continuously following the construction of emergency exits.

Labella said he noticed in Apas National High School, for example, a five-story and a three-story building have no emergency exits.

“I already told the Local School Board to address the situation there,” he said.

Daluz affirmed that Apas National High School is one of the schools to be constructed emergency exits next month.  (FREEMAN)