ZAMBOANGA CITY – The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) wants to retrofit old public school buildings as classes for school year 2022-2023 are set to be held face-to-face.
Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario, chief of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), said Thursday that public school buildings over 20 years old should be retrofitted to ensure these are safe to use and occupy.
CDRRMC has the funds for the retrofitting of old school buildings, Apolinario said, adding that retrofitting works should be done in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd).
He said the City Engineer’s Office will be tasked to identify the school buildings that need to be retrofitted first.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ronald Abaa, Tugbungan Elementary School principal, said the buildings in his school are already very old and need to be replaced instead of being retrofitted.
“The buildings in our school are older than the other schools located within the seven-kilometer radius of the city,” Abaa said.
He added that he already brought the matter to the attention of DepEd and Mayor John Dalipe. (PNA)
