School asks aid for teacher hit by government issued car

CEBU, Philippines- The administration of Banilad Elementary School is reaching out to other public school officials and personnel for a voluntary contribution to aid the hospital expenses of a teacher who was hit by a government-issued vehicle last week. 

Lily Ann Go, principal of Banilad Elementary School, said that when she last visited Junrey Sanchez at the hospital, he was still in the recovery room but the bill already amounted to over P100,000.

Sanchez, one of the 45 teachers at the school, was hit by a city government vehicle issued to the office of Councilor Richard Osmeña.

Osmeña earlier said he will help Sanchez settle the hospital expenses. Osmeña said Sanchez can be given up to P25,000 from the City Hospitalization and Medicine Program.

Go told the media yesterday that 39-year-old Sanchez was about to attend Mass at a chapel across the school campus for the barangay’s fiesta when he was hit by the car.

 Sanchez is a Grade 4 teacher who handles six sections, teaching Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan.

“The family is asking for financial support. In lieu with this, may I ask your office to allow the [principal] seek financial help from our DepEd family — Cebu City to defray some expenses,” read the letter of Go, sent to DedEd-7 division office yesterday.

Further, Go said that they remind their students and personnel to always be cautious and follow basic traffic rules. 

Outside the Banilad Elementary School, a skywalk has been constructed for public use. However, Sanchez reportedly opted not to use the skywalk and cross the road instead.

Go said that people should use the skywalk for safety reasons. In fact, the school conducts regular orientations for taking preventive measures on calamities and accidents.

“I know he (Sanchez) is very much aware, he can already decide on his own. But you see, the skywalk is very much functional,” she said.

A DepEd official is also reminding students and school personnel to abide by the basic traffic rules.

“Most of the time, people tend to neglect the basic practice (of using the skywalk) when the main reason of having a skywalk is for the people to use it for safe crossing to avoid risking lives,” said Dr. Danilo Gudelosao, acting assistant schools division superintendent of the Department of Education.

Considering the recent incident, Gudelosao advised the students and teachers that crossing busy streets, such as the Gov. Cuenco Avenue, without using skywalks or pedestrian lanes is risky.

Parents and guardians are likewise reminded to take the skywalk, especially when bringing with them their children since most of the adults choose to cross the streets instead of using the skywalk.  (FREEMAN)