Buhisan elementary school: City mulls suspension of face-to-face classes

CEBU, Philippines — Amid evaluations of geohazards at Barangay Buhisan Elementary School, Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has expressed openness to calling off face-to-face classes while the city works on possible resolutions.

Following the recommendations of the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), and Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Garcia said he is considering canceling face-to-face classes at the school pending a resolution to address the risks.

These agencies assessed the danger posed by rainwater due to cracks in the walls, slabs, floors, and beneath the beams of the Principal’s Office and classrooms.

Upon inspection, they cited the urgency of addressing the matter and recommended relocating the school.

Garcia said that while he had already considered this option, he would need to discuss it further in a meeting with the Department of Education (DepEd) to hear their recommendations as well.

He added that this decision would be made while the government considers options such as retrofitting the school or finding a possible relocation site.

“Pero I am open to the possibility of calling off face-to-face classes, unya mag-blended nalang sila or mag-blended lang sila para dili lang sad sila mauwahi sa ilang mga lessons,” said Garcia.

He reiterated that he cannot decide on this alone and emphasized the need for a meeting with DepEd and other concerned sectors.

Regarding a possible relocation, Garcia said they would need to identify the most suitable site, acknowledging that this would not be easy since Barangay Buhisan is already in the mountainous portion of the city.

“Nya gamay nalang kaayo ang mga areas dira nga matukoran, nya some areas there are landslide-prone, so that’s not gonna be an easy task for the city government to find a relocation,” said Garcia.

He added that collaboration with barangay officials and other sectors would be necessary to find the most appropriate relocation site.

Currently, Garcia said he is also open to declaring a State of Emergency in the area and forwarding the proposal for deliberation and approval by the City Council.

The CDRRMO previously requested MGB-7 to conduct a Geohazard Assessment Report on the visible ground cracks at Buhisan Elementary School.

Prior to this, the CDRRMO and the Office of the Building Official (OBO) conducted an initial assessment and recommended that the school undergo a risk evaluation due to the observed structural damage.

In their report, the MGB-7 outlined several recommendations based on their observations. For the site, they recommended additional engineering studies by professionals to determine the appropriate measures to address the landslide hazard.

They also discouraged further development, such as playgrounds, in the identified landslide-prone areas. Additionally, they suggested installing a proper drainage system to redirect the flow of water.

The MGB-7 also noted that landslide-prone areas should be off-limits to the school community and encouraged the installation of warning signs around unstable portions to alert students and staff.

For long-term safety, they emphasized that relocating the school should be considered if the geotechnical and engineering studies yield unfavorable results.

In a separate inspection, the DEPW also analyzed the area. Engineer Jonathan Tumulak of the DEPW told reporters that the visible cracks were caused by “poor water management” from surface water or rainwater.

Tumulak ruled that it is now “dangerous” to continue using the school site and suggested relocation if the city could provide a vacant lot near Buhisan.

The OBO also conducted an inspection of public schools in the city, including Buhisan, following a  magnitude 5.8 earthquake that shook the Province of Southern Leyte and nearby areas last January 23, 2025. In their report, OBO also noted of the cracks.

“However, upon inspection, the team observed the following in the Principal’s Office of Buhisan Elementary School: Major cracks on slabs, floors, under beams, doors, and window sills,” the OBO report reads.

They then “strongly” advised prompt repairs to the building, as it poses potential hazards should another earthquake occur in Cebu City. — (FREEMAN)