CLASSES SUSPENDED. Koronadal City Mayor Eliordo Ogena (seated in front, right) declares class suspension in all levels until Tuesday in both private and public schools due to reported damage to school buildings and related structures as a result of the recent earthquakes. The mayor issued the decision following an emergency meeting on Sunday with the local School Board, school heads and officials led by city schools division superintendent Gildo Mosquedo (left) and the City Engineering Office. (Photo grab from the City of Koronadal Facebook page)
KORONADAL CITY -- The city government extended the suspension of classes in all levels until Tuesday in private and public schools here due to reported damage to school buildings and related structures as a result of the series of powerful earthquakes in the last three weeks.
City Mayor Eliordo Ogena said Monday they need to further inspect and assess buildings as well as set up necessary interventions to the affected schools within the city’s 27 barangays.
He declared the additional two-day class suspension following an emergency meeting with members of the city’s Local School Board, school heads and officials, led by city schools division superintendent Gildo Mosqueda and building officials, on Sunday.
The mayor said he convened the board to assess the situation in local schools following the recent quakes.
Based on the assessment report presented by the City Engineering Office, at least 116 school buildings and classrooms, as well as 26 related structures in 54 public schools in the city, are no longer safe for use after sustaining major cracks and other structural damage.
“This (class suspension) is to ensure the safety of our students and give our schools officials and teachers enough time to transfer important items and prepare the temporary classrooms,” he said in a statement.
Classes in the city were suspended after the magnitude 6.6 earthquake last Oct. 29 felt at Intensity 6 and followed by a magnitude 6.5 quake on Oct. 31 experienced at Intensity 5 in the area.
Prior to the twin quakes, the area experienced a series of strong aftershocks following the magnitude 6.3 earthquake last Oct. 16.
Ogena said the inspection and assessment is ongoing on commercial establishments and other private buildings in the city.
The mayor said he will meet on Tuesday with owners of business establishments and private schools to determine the extent of damage wrought by the quakes.
During the Oct. 31 tremor, portions of the walls of the Gaisano Grand Mall here sustained cracks and fell off but its management said the structural integrity of the entire structure remains intact and has since resumed normal operations. (PNA)
